According to Philippines media, at about 4:35 a.m. on December 2, in the town of Lake Saibu, South Cotabato Province, Mindanao, the Philippine government forces clashed with the anti-government armed “New People’s Army” (NPA), and five New People’s Army militants were killed, including a woman.
Jemuel Siason, the chief of the South Cotabato Police, said that at the time of the incident, militants opened fire on government forces, triggering an armed conflict. There were no casualties among government forces in the conflict. After the conflict, the government forces seized an M-16 rifle, a carbine, a .45 pistol, a .40 pistol, a pile of improvised explosives, and anti-government documents.
The “New People’s Army” was formed in the 1960s to try to overthrow the Philippines government by force. The conflict between the two sides has continued to this day, killing tens of thousands of people. At present, the armed personnel of the “New People’s Army” mainly carry out anti-government activities in villages, mountainous areas and other places.
