Northern Samar: Four suspected rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in Northern Samar province in central Philippines, the Philippine military said Wednesday. In a report, the military stated that the four deceased were part of a group of 30 rebels from the New People’s Army (NPA) engaged in combat with the troops in Catubig town.

According to Namibia Press Agency, troops recovered some firearms from the clash site, and no soldiers were wounded or killed in the fighting. The NPA rebels have been in conflict with government forces since 1969. Military data indicates a decline in the NPA’s personnel strength from its peak of around 25,000 armed members in the 1980s. Despite the reduction in their numbers, the NPA continues to execute small-scale attacks in the countryside.