Gov’t troops, lawless elements clash in Basilan, no casualties reported

MANILA, Philippines  — The military and a group of unidentified lawless elements clashed in Basilan Friday although there were no casualties reported, an official said.

Lieutenant Colonel Cabangbang, Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said the Fourth Scout Ranger Battalion recovered two M16 rifles with one M203 grenade launcher, three garand rifles, and one M653 baby armalite rifle.

The lawless elements scampered away two minutes after the firefight in the village of Lawila in Lantawan, he added.

The enemies fled towards west as troops continued scouring the vicinity of the encounter, he also said.

This is the third of the series of encounters of the Special Operations Task Force in Basilan that started November 15, when one lawless element was killed and two M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, one .45 caliber pistol were recovered in Sumisip town, a military report also said.