Manila, Dec 5 (IANS): Five militants were killed in the latest clash with government troops in southern Philippines Friday, the military said.
Five New People's Army (NPA) members died during the fight with the Army's 71st Infantry Battalion around 2 p.m. Friday in the southern province of Compostela Valley, Xinhua reported citing military sources.
After a 10-minute fight, government troops defeated the militants without suffering any casualties, Vergel Lacambra, 10th Infantry Division public affairs office chief said.
A pursuit operation has already been launched, he added.
The 4,000-strong NPA, an armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been fighting a leftist insurgency in 60 Philippine provinces since 1969.