PAGADIAN CITY – Troops clashed with communist rebels in Tangub City in southern Philippines that left one infantryman wounded, officials said Sunday.
Officials said the weekend fighting erupted in the village called Hoyohoy and lasted about 40 minutes. There were no reports of rebel casualties.
“After the forty minutes firefight, troops recovered one AK47 assault rifle with four empty magazines, two half sacks rice, dried fish, and two back packs. One of our soldiers has sustained minor injury in the firefight,” said Maj. Ronald Suscano, an army spokesman, quoting a report by Lt. Col. Ryan Severo.
Severo, commander of the 10th Infantry Battalion, said government soldiers were sent to the village after civilians tipped off the presence of New People’s Army rebels there. “Troops have been responding to the reported presence of the communist terrorists sowing terror to the civilian community. The combat operations resulted to the armed confrontation with the terrorist group,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, praised civilians for their support to the military and at the same time urged rebels to surrender peacefully and avail of the government’s amnesty program. “We are calling on the communists to peacefully surrender and avail the programs of the government and live peacefully with their families,” he said.
Murillo said troops were still pursuing rebel forces in Tangub, which is part of Misamis Occidental province. (Mindanao Examiner)
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