A brief battle between the military and the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines left two dead a day before the New People's Army extended a ceasefire in areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda.Members of NPA Front 16 clashed with troops on patrol in Brgy Alipao, Alegria, Surigao del Norte early Saturday afternoon. An unidentified NPA militant and a soldier were killed in the gunfight, which lasted for about 25 minutes. Two improvised explosive devices were recovered from the militants after the fight.
The clash happened a day before the Maoist group extended its ceasefire in the central Philippines, which the government has not reciprocated due to difficulties in the peace talks.