Las navas: Four New People’s Army (NPA) combatants were killed in a clash with soldiers early Thursday in the upland San Isidro village in Las Navas, Northern Samar. The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (ID) reported that government forces also recovered from the NPA hideout four M16 rifles and one M203 grenade launcher after the clash that started at 2:30 a.m.

According to Philippines News Agency, Capt. Jefferson Mariano, the spokesperson for the 8th ID, mentioned that the terrorists’ hideouts were heavily fortified and surrounded by International Humanitarian Law-banned anti-personnel mines. This prompted the troops to call for fire support. Reinforcing forces from the Army’s 803rd Infantry Brigade also encountered more rebels at around 10 a.m. near the first encounter site.

The military identified the armed rebels as members of the NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee. Soldiers launched the operation following information from a concerned civilian that a group of armed men was conducting extortion activities and threatening farmers in the area.

The mountains of Las Navas town have long been considered a lair of the NPA. For several years, clashes between government forces and rebels have been reported in the town’s upland villages.