Batangas police: Army, communist rebels clashed in Taysan

The Batangas Provincial Police Office says government troops and communist rebels clashed in Taysan town on Friday, February 2, 2024. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Government troops and communist rebels clashed in Taysan town in Batangas on Friday, the provincial police said.

In a report on Saturday, the Batangas Provincial Police Office said the Taysan Municipal Police Station received a call from a sergeant of the 59th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army (PA) around 10 p.m. on February 2 regarding four armed encounters between the soldiers and communist rebels that day.

The gun battles occurred in Sitio Centro, Brgy. Guinhawa in Taysan, police noted.

READ: 6 rebels, soldier killed in Batangas clash

“Personnel of Taysan Municipal Police Station led by PEMS Rizalina Buquis were dispatched to conduct checkpoint operation at Brgy Pinagbayanan, Taysan, Batangas,” the Batangas police said, adding that the Taysan police even requested assistance from the Batangas Provincial Explosive Ordinance Division and Canine Unit. and Batangas Provincial Forensic Unit for the “processing of crime scene.”

The Batangas police did not indicate in its report if the armed encounters resulted in casualties. They, however, said that a clearing operation of the 59th IB is still ongoing.