[Gulf Today] Four New People's Army and two Philippine soldiers were killed in an encounter in a remote village in Misamis Oriental province, the military reported on Thursday.Provincial military spokesman Captain Patrick Martinez said two other troops and a civilian were injured in a clash that occurred in the town of Longalong, Misamis Oriental on Tuesday morning. The civilian was injured when he was hit by a stray bullet as soldiers battled the militants in the 30-minute encounter. The soldiers had been sent to check on complaints that armed men were extorting food and money, and making threats against the villagers.
Meanwhile, the military declared the town of New Corella in Davao del Norte free from communist militants signaling the end of the of the government's local Peace and Development Outreach Program.
Colonel Harold Cabreras said the declaration meant the absence of NPA militants from the town, explaining, "We receive reports there are still armed groups roaming in the municipality from neighboring provinces but it does not mean the area is NPA-affected. It just means the community no longer wants to join the activities of the rebels."