Government troops recovered war materiel following an encounter with members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Mangmangyan 2, Baco, Oriental Mindoro, on Saturday.

According to reports from the 203rd Infantry Brigade, the clash erupted after soldiers from the 76th Infantry Battalion responded to a tip-off from concerned residents about the presence of armed rebels in their community.

The brief firefight led to the recovery of one M16A1 rifle, a short magazine, and 18 rounds of live ammunition.

No casualties were reported on the government side, while possible losses on the NPA side are still being verified.

Troops are now conducting pursuit operations to track down the fleeing insurgents and ensure the safety of nearby communities.

The incident is part of the 2nd Infantry Division’s ongoing intensified operations across Southern Tagalog, particularly in Mindoro, aimed at dismantling the remaining NPA presence and achieving the goal of ending local armed conflict in the province by year’s end.