Members of Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion and Scout Rangers reportedly overran the alleged NPA camp in Sitio Tuyupan in Barangay Talalak in Santa Catalina town.

Military reports said that government forces encountered at least 40 suspected NPA rebels along a stream in Sitio Tuyupan.

The encounter reportedly happened at 4:30 p.m. Monday, two days after the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) celebrated its 41st founding anniversary.

The firefight reportedly lasted for about 40 minutes.

High-ranking officials of the CPP, NPA and National Democratic Front of Central Visayas were expected to attend a supposed plenum Tuesday, December 29, according to military reports.

Lt. Col. Erwin Bernard Neri, 79th IB commanding officer, said that a high-ranking official of NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon Sentral Bisayas (KRSB) gave them the information that CPP will be having their plenum in Sitio Tuyupan.

After the firefight, the Army officer said they recovered several subversive documents that allegedly list the activities of the rebel group. Also purportedly recovered were personal belongings, sacks of rice and an unidentified dead body estimated to be 44 years old.

Rounds for M203 grenade launcher and bullets for M-16 rifle were also allegedly recovered from the dead body.

Tuesday morning, another dead body was reportedly found near the encounter site. Allegedly recovered with the body was a “Baby M16” with a grenade launcher attached as well more ammunition for M16 rifle and M203 grenade launcher.

The body is believed to be of Dominador de la Cruz from Barangay Kakha of Santa Catalina town, said the military.

Neri said the two dead bodies are believed to be of high-ranking officials of the New People’s Army KRSB based on the type of guns and ammunition recovered from them.

No casualties were reported from the government side.

Pursuit operations by the military were still ongoing in the mountains of Southern Negros Oriental.

Meanwhile, Neri called on the communist rebels to surrender to the government.

“They better surrender now… the government has livelihood programs to help them”, said Neri. -- ABS-CBN