LUCENA CITY -- At least six alleged communist New People's Army (NPA) and a government soldier were killed in an encounter early Sunday morning (Dec. 17) in Balayan town in Batangas province, the military said. Lieutenant Colonel Hector Estolas, public affairs office chief of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, in a report said patrolling soldiers from 59th Infantry Battalion engaged a band of NPA rebels in Barangay (village) Malalay early dawn. The military claimed that six communist guerillas were slain in the clash. The soldiers recovered two M16 rifles, one M653 rifle and one shotgun from the clash site. READ:Girl slain in NPA-Army clash in Batangas The report...Keep on reading: 6 rebels, soldier killed in Batangas clash