TROOPS of the Joint Task Force (JTF)-ZamPeLan are tracking down a group of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Lanao del Sur to prevent them from regrouping and posing further threats, the military said.
The subject of the pursuit operation is the group of NPA rebels who figured in a clash with troops of the 5th Infantry Battalion (5IB) Wednesday, June 25, in Sandab Madaya village, Butig, Lanao del Sur.
Major General Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr., 1st Infantry Division and JTF-ZamPeLan commander, said the fleeing NPA rebels are believed to be carrying some of their wounded comrades, as troops noted bloodstains at the clash site.
No one among the 5IB troops was killed or wounded during the clash. The battalion is under the 103rd Infantry Brigade.
“JTF-ZamPeLan will not stop its focused combat operations to safeguard the people of Lanao del Sur. The only option left for these armed groups is to surrender,” Barroquillo said.
He said troops recovered an M-16 rifle with 95 rounds of ammunition, various other war materiel, personal belongings, and documents of intelligence value. (SunStar Zamboanga)