TROOPS from the army's 88th Infantry Battalion (88IB) seized weapons and war materials after they overrun the hideout of the New People's Army (NPA) in Banlag, Valencia City in Bukidnon, late last week.
Government soldiers clashed with around 60 communist guerillas belonging to the NPA's Company Thunder of Sub-Regional Command 2 (SRC 2), North Central Mindanao Regional Command (NCMRC), led by alias "War" and alias "Amana" in an uninhabited forest locally known as "Bilbilisan," northeast from Barangay Banlag.
The exchange of fire lasted for about 30 minutes. The military said no casualties on the government side.
However, traces of blood were seen towards south direction of the encounter site which indicate that there are casualties on the side of the NPA, the military added.
Recovered from the NPA hideout were an Ingram sub-machine gun, an M203 tube (misfired unexploded round inside the tube), an improvised M14 pistol, an anti-personnel mine, a generator set, assorted medical supplies, backpacks, handheld radio and personal belongings with subversive documents, flags of the NPA, CPP and NDF and cellular phones.
The military stormed the NPA hideout after receiving a report from a former Milisyang Bayan (MB) member who recently surrendered that the NPA were allegedly exorting money and food supplies in Sitio Pantaron.
The 88IB commander Lieutenant Colonel Franklin Fabic lauded the operating troops and directed them to "hit hard and destroy the NPA."
"For CNT's, (Communist Party-New People’s Army Terrorists) if you will continue to sow terror to the peace-loving people of Bukidnon, the dragon warriors will hunt you down. For those who want to surrender, we are offering our hands to you," Fabic said.
"Return to the folds of the law. The government has many programs for you to start a new life. Join the mainstream society and be part of the solution by bringing peace and development in different communities," he added. (Alwen Saliring)