Captain Ernest Carolina, spokesperson of the military’s 10th Infantry Division, said troops under the 1002nd Brigade were conducting pursuit operations against members of the New People’s Army who attacked Matanao when they encountered an undetermined number of rebels in Sitio (sub-village) Timodos, Barangay (village) Manobisa in the town of Magpet at around 9:55 a.m.
A fierce firefight ensued and lasted for an hour, Carolina said.
The operating state security forces sustained casualties after several explosives were detonated by the rebels while the soldiers were maneuvering.