ZAMBOANGA CITY – Fighting erupted between army soldiers and communist insurgents in Zamboanga del Sur’s Osmena town in southern Philippines that left two people dead, officials said on Sunday.

Major Ronald Suscano, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said soldiers from the 53rd Infantry Battalion, led by 1st Lieutenant Abner Pilando, engaged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a running gun battle in the village of San Isidro. He said troops were responding to reports that rebels were harassing villagers when they ran into a band of NPA gunmen and firefight ensued.

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