The 5th Special Forces Battalion of the Philippine Army raided a communist guerrilla hideout and killed five members, including an explosives expert, of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). 

Philippines military officials identified the dead as Romeo Libron, the NPA’s chief of ordnance of the NPA in the Mindanao region, his wife Merly, his deputy Rogelio Magsaya and two fighters.

Filipino troops had tracked down the group and were attempting to place them under arrest when the group opened fire. The Special Forces troops returned fire mortally wounding the insurgents. 

“They were killed following a law enforcement operation shortly before 5 a.m. in the village of Ned in the town of Lake Sebu of South Cotabato province,” Lt. Col. Randy Banaag, commander of the 5th SF Bn, told reporters.