EIGHT Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels were captured by government forces following a raid of a rebel camp in Salvador, Lanao del Sur, a military official said Wednesday.
Army spokesman Ernesto Torres said the arrested rebels are now under the custody of the 35th Infantry Battalion (IB) for interrogation.
Soldiers from the 35th IB swooped down on the rebel camp at Sitio Bayabao, Barangay Buntong at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
A 30-minute exchange of fire, according to Torres, ensued between the troops and about 20 rebels before the rebels withdrew toward different directions. No casualty was reported on both sides.
Troops recovered 40 rounds of caliber 30 Garand, three handheld VHF radio, a homemade shotgun, and military backpack with a military uniform and foodstuffs.
Meanwhile, Army troops led by 2nd Lieutenant Juliemar Axalan of the 11th Special Forces Company recovered various war items in Barangay Tina, Mamasapano, Maguindanao at 10:25 a.m. on the same day.
The items include an M14 rifle, a caliber .30 Garand rifle, a caliber .30 Machine gun, a 60mm mortar, a rocket-propelled grenade tube without trigger mechanism, bolt of caliber .30, cover of caliber .30, an ammunition box of caliber .30, improvised base plate of 60mm mortar, 27 pieces sacks of Palay, half sack of rice, and 15 pieces of canned goods.
In a similar operation, operatives of the 75th IB recovered a homemade 40mm Grenade Launcher with ammunition, 300 meters of electrical wire, 50 meters coaxial cord with antenna, and a uniform of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) officer in Barangay Lapok also in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. (VR/Sunnex)
