EIGHT suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed after a three-hour firefight against joint elements of the Philippine Army's 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) and the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) in Sitio Agit, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City Tuesday, March 23, 2021.

Major Cenon Pancito III, spokesman of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said they have yet to identify the eight insurgents whose bodies were recovered at the encounter site.

The alleged 40 members of the NPA who engaged with government troopers were identified by Pancito to belong to the NPA's Sentro De Grabidad Platoon and the Samahang Yunit Propaganda Platoon Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor.

Pancito said the 62IB was sent to Barangay Trinidad after receiving information of the NPA's presence in the area.

Pancito said a three-hour-long gun battle ensued between the 62IB and at least 40 communist insurgents. The 62IB was later backed up NOrPPO units, and the NPA rebels were forced to retreat leaving behind the remains of their dead comrades.

Pancito said they have reasons to believe that the NPA rebels they engaged with could have suffered far bigger casualties and the other remains could have likely been dragged away by the insurgents from the encounter site.

Both the army and police recovered six M16 assault rifles, an M4 carbine, an M60 machine gun, a KG-9 machine pistol and an improvised explosive device.

Government forces also recovered the personal belongings of the insurgents, subversive documents, and documents that yield "high intelligence value."

Following the clash, 3ID commander Major General Eric Vinoya lamented the deaths of the eight NPA insurgents.

"The tragic death of these eight NPA terrorists is an urgent warning to the remaining members of the group to lay down their arms," Vinoya said.

Vinoya said their forces will be unceasing in wiping out the NPA insurgents in Negros. He warned them that surrendering is their only option left to avoid misfortune and death.

The 3ID commander also lauded the troops involved in the clash, commenting that it was a "decisive engagement."

He further added the NPA insurgents in the area were planning to wage terror as part of the NPA’s anniversary celebration this month.

"I commend our troops, with deepest sense of pride, for preventing such an evil plan to be conducted by this terrorist organization," he added.