LEGAZPI CITY –– Government forces found several high-powered firearms and bomb-making materials from suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Mobo town in Masbate province on Tuesday. Feb. 16.
Colonel Joriz Cantoria, Masbate police chief, said in a report that while conducting combat operations, soldiers from the Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion and the Masbate police intelligence unit operatives had a 15-minute firefight with 15 NPA rebels in Barangay Sta Maria at 6:01 a.m.
Recovered from the battle site were four M16 rifles with eight short magazines, a switch for an improvised explosive device, five blasting caps, assorted bullets, documents, and other personal belongings.
No casualties were reported on the government side. A hot pursuit operation is on-going.