TWO New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in the province of Surigao del Sur, a top military official announced Wednesday, May 4.

Lieutenant General Greg Almerol, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said the clash occurred Friday, April 29, as the troops responded to the reported plan of NPA rebels to extort politicians campaigning and the community in Nurcia village, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.

Almerol said the remains of the slain NPA rebels were taken to the hospital for proper identification and disposition.

He said the troops recovered an M-16 Armalite rifle and a caliber .45 pistol at the clash site.

On Thursday, April 28, a firefight also happened as government checked the reported presence of NPA rebels in Sitio Alimayo, Payapag village, Bacuag, Surigao del Norte.

The troops recovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), five magazines of an AK47, various ammunition, bandoliers, subversive documents, and other personal belongings abandoned by the NPA rebels.

Meanwhile, four NPA members, including two minors, voluntarily surrendered to the troops on April 27 in Coronobe village, Maragusan, Davao de Oro.

Almerol said the four NPA rebels surrendered following the series of combat operations launched by government forces against the remnants of Regional Operational Command (ROC) and Regional Headquarters (RHQ) of the NPA's Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

The four NPA surrenderers were aged 19, 18, 14 and 15. The two minors were endorsed to the Municipal Welfare and Development Officer of New Bataan, Davao del Oro.

"We will also assist the parents of the minors and DSWD in filing appropriate charges against the CTG (Communist Terrorist Group) for recruiting minors and for child trafficking," Almerol said.

"We condemn this incident, which proves the CTG's incessant use of children in their terrorist activities," he added.

The surrender of the four also led to the discovery of two M-16 rifles after revealing an arms cache in Sitio Mission in Andap village, New Bataan, Davao de Oro. (SunStar Zamboanga)