BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar — An individual believed to be a member of the New People's Army was killed following an encounter with state troops last Monday at Barangay San Nicolas in San Jose de Buan town, Samar province.

Reports from the Philippine Army's 802nd Infantry Brigade disclosed that the insurgent was killed during a 20-minute firefight between government troops from the 63rd Infantry Battalion and members of the Yakal Platoon, Sub-Regional Committee "BROWSER" of the NPA.

Capt. Gerald Panganiban, civil-military operations officer of the 802IBde, said the encounter was the third in a series of clashes between the operating troops and the rebel group.

"Known locations of communist NPA remnants are the targets of massive focused military operations of government forces that resulted from collated information given by the communities and local governments in the area that are continuously being threatened by the said terrorist groups," Panganiban said.

The government troops also recovered one high-powered firearm in the said encounter.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802IBde, said the military is optimistic that it will find the targets based on the timely information provided by the local residents.

"The cooperation of the communities and the local leaders is a clear manifestation of the dwindling support of the masses that would eventually cut their alliance and ties with the CPP-NPA-NDF terrorists," Vestuir said.

"This is a wake-up call to our Waraynon brothers who are still wandering in the hinterlands fighting with the terrorist NPA for an obsolete and violent ideology. Now is the time to abandon your life of terror and danger in exchange for well-spent quality living with your families at the comforts of your home," he added.