TWO members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were allegedly killed while seven military personnel were wounded in an encounter in Sitio Asaran, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental Tuesday morning, April 9.

No names were released yet on to the identities of the fatalities while the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) of the Philippine Army withheld the names of the wounded soldiers who are members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion.

The clash happened when the troops responded after receiving reports on the alleged presence of armed group in a camp at the area around 10:30 a.m., a press release said.

While assaulting the enemies’ temporary encampment, an improvised anti-personnel landmine exploded, hitting seven soldiers.

The wounded soldiers sustained injuries caused by shrapnel. They were all transported via two helicopters to the hospital.

They are all stable now.

A firefight against 20 rebels lasted for about an hour.

Thus, it prompted the military force to provide additional troops using two helicopters to conduct pursuit operations against the armed group who withdrew to the northeast direction of the village.

The two rebels who were reportedly killed were seen being dragged away by their companions while fleeing from the encounter site.