Firearms, explosive device recovered in Sorsogon clash

NAGA CITY, Philippines —Government troops recovered four high-powered firearms and an improvised explosive device fashioned as a landmine after a clash with suspected New People’s Army rebels in Bulan, Sorsogon, early Tuesday morning, an Army official said.

Major Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the 9th Infantry Division, said the 20-minute firefight between soldiers from the 49th Infantry Battalion and around ten communist rebels erupted at around 6 a.m. in Barangay (village) Palale, Bulan.

The firearms recovered included an M16 rifle, M14, M653 and an AK47. Seven backpacks containing personal effects were also found around the wooded area of the village, Guzman said.

First Lieutenant Jerry Colago, leader of the patrolling soldiers, said that several subversive documents were also recovered.

He said residents reported seeing bloodstains along the escape route of the rebels, who may have carried their wounded with them.

Colonel Felix Castro, commanding officer of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, deployed additional troops to pursue the rebels, said Guzman.

Meanwhile, Army spokesman Colonel Antonio Parlade said that on Monday, a rebel returnee guided soldiers to the location of his comrades in Tugawe village, Gubat town also in Sorsogon province which triggered a five minute gun fight.

After the rebels had fled, soldiers recovered a laptop computer which contained information on alleged extortion activities in the province, Parlade said. With Katherine Evangelista, INQUIRER.net