High powered firearms found in Masbate clash site

Masbate map

LIGAO CITY — Soldiers from the military’s 2nd Infantry Battalion and operatives from Philippine National Police engaged in a firefight with more or less 10 suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Wednesday morning in Mobo town in Masbate province.

Major John Paul Belleza, chief of public affairs office of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said the government forces were conducting combat and clearing operations when they encountered the communist rebels around 6 a.m. at Sitio (sub-village) Malapinggan in Barangay (village) Sawmill.

Belleza said the NPAs withdrew, taking their wounded with them, after the 15-minute fight.

State troops recovered one M653 rifle, two M16 rifles, a grenade, assorted magazines and ammunition, several components for anti-personnel mine, communication materials, and other terroristic propaganda materials and personal belongings of the rebels.

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