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Two soldiers were killed while two others were wounded in an encounter with alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Kalinga on Tuesday morning.

Lt. Col. Isagani Nato, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command, said Wednesday the clash between troops of Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion and NPA members occurred at the vicinity of Sitio Matayog, Brgy. Baay, Pinukpuk, Kalinga at around 10am

Nato said troops were just responding to reported presence of rebels in the area.

“This NPA criminal group was part of the Komiteng Larangang Gerilya (KLG) of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC), NPA under Ruby Daguitan alias Pinpin,” he said.

“The clash resulted to the death of two Army personnel and wounding of another two in the government side, while the NPA suffered undetermined number of casualties,” he added.

Nato said the wounded soldiers were rushed to a hospital.

“The wounded personnel were immediately given first aid on site and were evacuated to the nearest hospital for treatment, including those who were killed in action,” he said.

Nato said the Northern Luzon Command “will remain steadfast to its mandate of protecting the Filipino people against any threat.

“NOLCOM will also sustain its Development Support Operations to ensure that government services will reach its recipients and thwart any plan of the NPA criminal group detrimental to the lives of the people in its area of operation,” he added. Robina Asido/DMS