MANILA - Five communist New People’s Army rebels and a military officer died following a clash between the two forces in the outskirts of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on Sunday.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said the clash also resulted in the recovery of three high-powered firearms of the rebels.

Based on the initial information received, Burgos said troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion were on a patrol at the vicinity of Sitio Aluyan, Barangay Caduhaan around 10 a.m. when they encountered some undetermined number of rebels.

“They were conducting security patrol when the fighting broke out,” said Burgos.

Burgos said the two forces clashed briefly, resulting to the death of the Army lieutenant, whose identity was withheld pending the notification of his kin.

Burgos said the troops recovered five bodies of the still unidentified rebels and an M14, an M16 and an M653 rifles. (VR/Sunnex)