February 08, 2017•Update: February 08, 2017
By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
Philippine troops clashed with communist rebels on Wednesday, seizing weapons and materiel in the southern province of Zamboanga, the military said.
The killing and arrest of several officers of the leftist New People's Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have also been reported, days after President Rodrigo Duterte ended peace talks with the Maoist group.
Western Mindanao Command chief Maj Gen. Carlito Galvez said troops encountered rebels in Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur around 1:15 a.m. local time on Wednesday (1715GMT on Tuesday).
Galvez said the rebels were involved in extortion and arson activities in the province.
"We'll make them want to surrender and go back to the folds of the government," he added.
The same day, police shot dead an NPA liaison officer who resisted arrest in Davao City.
Meanwhile, the NDF said the revolutionary movement would weather the Duterte administration’s declaration of all-out war against the left.
On Monday, the authorities arrested a consultant of an NDF peace panel along with his liaison officer in Toril, Davao City.
A deputy regional secretary of the NPA was also arrested in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.
The series of arrests followed Duterte's order to arrest NDF consultants who were temporarily released in August to participate in peace talks.
