Four days before the 50th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), separate encounters between government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels resulted in the killing of a Philippine Army soldier in Las Navas, Northern Samar and an active member of the auxiliary force in Kalinga province, while four others were wounded, including two rebels.

Capt. Francis Agno, chief of the civil military operations and spokesman for the 8th Infantry Division based in Camp Lukban, Maulong, Catbalogan City, told The Manila Times that a squad of soldiers led by Cpl. Cabanero of the 20th Infantry Battalion (20IB) was patrolling along Barangay Capotoan in Las Navas town when they encountered about 30 rebels at about 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.