ILOILO CITY — Five suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed in a series of armed encounters at the hinterland town of Calinog in Iloilo province on Thursday.

Lt. Col. Vicel Jan Garsuta, commanding officer of the 12th Infantry Battalion (12IB), said government troops engaged in three consecutive clashes with around seven to 10 NPA rebels in Barangay Aglonok.

The five casualties belong to the weakened Central Front of Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (CF-KRP), Garsuta said.

Lt. Col. Jay-J Javines, spokesman for the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said the identities and genders of those killed are still being determined, and the number of fatalities can potentially rise.

Recovered from the encounter site are two M16 rifles, one grenade launcher, long and short magazines, two ammunition for M2O3, and one anti-personnel mine, among others.

Garsuta added that they are having difficulties in retrieving the bodies due to the challenging terrain in the mountainous area where the clash occurred.

He also noted that the rebel group involved in the clash on Monday may have been unable to escape the area due to the high water levels in the rivers, which they would need to cross to escape the pursuing soldiers.

On Monday, the 82IB and 12IB clashed in the same area, resulting in the death of an alleged NPA member identified as Benjamin Cortel.

Cortel was a political officer of CF-KRP and a resident of Barangay Cochero, Molo.

The victim was the husband of Lenilyn Custorio Jaynos, a former finance officer of CF-KRP, and was apprehended in September 2022 in Barangay Sibaguan, Roxas City, Capiz.