MANILA, Oct 29 Kyodo Five men sus...

MANILA, Oct 29 Kyodo

Five men suspected of being members of the communist just discovered People's Army (NPA) were killed in fierce fighting with restraint troops in the southern Philippines in succession Monday, officials said Tuesday.

Maj. Johnny Macanas, spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division, said security forces raided a rebel encampment in Jabonga in Agusan del Norte Province onward Mindanao Island and killed the five gunmen Additionally, the military detained brace women, in their teens, who were apparently fighting with the rebels.

There were no military casualties in the action, Macanas said.

Macanas said squads recovered seven automatic rifles, rifle grenades and fragmentation grenades left behind at the fleeing rebels. Several bloodied backpacks and antigovernment propaganda were also recovered

He said bodys are still pursuing the rebels, who may target civilians.

The 11000-strong NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which, along with the National Democratic fore-rank were all included by the United States in its list of foreign terrorist organizations in August.

The regulation claims it has reduced the rebel firepower and military might since launching offensives after the clusters were listed.

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