January 4, 2002, The Philippine Star, NPA clashes with army even as peace negotiations near final agreement,

January 4, 2002, The Philippine Star, NPA clashes with army even as peace negotiations near final agreement, 

One soldier and one member of the Civilian Auxilliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were killed by the elements of the New People's Army (NPA) in Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Armed Forces spokesperson Brig-Gen Edilberto Adan also said another soldier was also wounded when 10 NPA communist rebels clashed with the 61st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine army. Adan added that though the NPAs managed to seize the M16 rifles of some of the soldiers, they left behind a number of their backpacks containing subversive documents. Adan said they will report the incident to the peace panel committee on the cease-fire violation committed by the NPA.

Meanwhile, government negotiator Silvestre Bello II said a final agreement with the communist group, the National Democratic Front, is almost ready. Bello said the two sides of the peace talks between the government and the communist group have agreed on the back-channelling talks, such that they will shorten the one-and-a-half year's timeframe. He added that an agreement may be made before the end of the first six months of this year, "without any disruptions or problems".