Officials said the soldiers were sent to the village of Salvacion in Trento town after residents tipped off the military about the presence of New People’s Army rebels in the area.
Troops clashed with rebels after they ran into a group of some 30 gunmen in the village and the fighting lasted about an hour, according to Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division.
He said soldiers also recovered landmines and grenade left behind by rebels. “Troops recovered three landmines, one hand grenade and several personal belongings,” Paniza said.
Some 50 families have fled their homes in the town for fear the fighting between security and rebel forces would escalate. The villagers are now temporarily staying in Pulang Lupa village.
The NPA is fighting for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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