Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) spokesperson Col. Preme Monta said that the rebels were killed at about 5 a.m. when they clashed with elements of the Bravo Company 71st Infantry Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

However, another report from Col. Ricardo Garcia, commander of the 702nd Infantry Battalion, said that only seven rebels were killed in the encounter.

Garcia said that three Army soldiers were injured in the gunbattle, while 16 M-16 rifles were confiscated from the rebels. But Monta claimed that there were no casualties on the government side as the military has intensified anti-insurgency operations in Tarlac, following reports of the presence of communist rebels in the area.

Monta said that the bodies of the rebels were brought to the Sta. Ignacia municipal building for identification.

He said that the rebels were members of the main communist group called Kilusang Larangang Guerilya, Tarlac Provincial Party Committee operating in Tarlac.

Monta said that the presence of the rebels in west Sta. Ines, Sta. Ignacia town were tipped off by civilians who said that the rebels have been conducting teach-ins and recruitment activities in the area.

He said that the military immediately sent government troops to the area to verify the presence of the rebels. Upon reaching the place, rebels immediately engaged the troopers in a fierce gunbattle.

Monta said that a headcount of the bodies of the rebels showed there were 18 dead. The authorities are currently tracking down other rebels who fled during the firefight.