Manila, Feb. 18 -- About 45 families, or 152 individuals, have returned to their homes in a remote village in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, days after the weekend clashes between government troops and the New People's Army (NPA).

Brig. Gen. Jason Jumawan, commander of the Philippine Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview on Wednesday that he has assured Tanjay City Mayor Pepe Orlino of the safety of residents of Sitio Canggabi in Barangay Sto. Nino.

"I talked to Mayor Orlino already and told him that residents in Sitio Canggabi have nothing to fear as the encounter sites are not populated and far from their homes and farms," Jumawan said.

As of Wednesday, no more evacuees were reported at the Sto...