Five members of the New People’s Army were killed in an encounter with the 730th Combat Group of the Philippine Air Force in Nasugbu, Batangas Wednesday afternoon.

SecurityMatters sources said the troops were conducting combat patrol in response to reported presence of armed men in the area when they were fired upon by some 10 NPA rebels along a deep creek in Sitio Bautista, Barangay Mataas na Pulo at around 1:15 in the afternoon.

A firefight ensued and lasted 15 minutes wounding civilians Edwin Coronel, 50, and an unidentified14-year-old boy. The victims were rushed to Apacible Memorial Hospital and are now in stable condition.

Another 14-year-old boy was also taken to the said hospital due to trauma after being caught in the middle of the firefight.

Soldiers recovered two M14 rifles,  one M-16 rifle, and one M-1 carbine at the clash site during clearing operations.

Military intelligence reports disclosed that the military monitored the movement of a section of the Main Regional Guerilla Unit (MRGU) of the NPA operating in Mindoro to Batangas about three weeks ago.