Government troops on Wednesday clashed with communist rebels in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, police said.

Police Director Perfecto Palad, PNP Director for Integrated Police Operations in Southern Luzon, said that joint elements of Recon Platoon of the Army’s 80th Infantry Battalion and 2nd Platoon of the Public Safety Management Company of Occidental Mindoro Police Provincial Office were locked in a fierce gunbattle with the members of the New People’s Army in Sitio Tagumpay, Barangay Mapaya, in San Jose.

Troop reinforcements were sent to the area as firefight was still raging as of mid-morning on Wednesday, Palad said.

No casualties were immediately reported in the gun battle that occurred near the residence of a certain Barangay Councilor De Pedro, Palad said.

Palad said the clash was a result of ongoing police operations against election law violators, armed groups and other security threats in Southern Luzon.