Saturday, October 11, 2008 Troops recover explosive components
Government troops have inflicted injuries on Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in a clash in Lanao del Norte province, a military official said.
The troops have also recovered explosive components, vital documents, and freshly laundered MILF uniforms with markings "Topsider" and "Double Body."
Colonel Benito De Leon, chief of the Army's 104th Infantry Brigade, said the clash took place Wednesday morning in the village of Maliwanag, Poona Piagapo, Lanao del Norte.
De Leon said the rouge MILF rebel group is led by Lumundaya Mabuntal alias "Topsider," who is the most trusted henchman of Abdulrahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo.
He said Topsider's group was believed to have suffered casualties as evidenced by blood stains "all over the encounter site" while the troops suffered no casualties.
Topsider's group was responsible for the series of bombings on National Transmission Corporation (Transco) power line towers in Lanao Del Norte.
The military is continuously pursuing the Moro rebels who attacked several towns in Lanao del Norte, displacing thousands of innocent civilians, last August. (Bong Garcia)
