Soldiers, rebs clash anew in Surigao

Government troops clashed with suspected communist rebels in Surigao del Sur province on Monday, seizing explosives and other components.

“We recovered blasting caps and electric wires. This means that they have explosives with them, and this alarms us,” said Col. Noel Detoyato, the Armed Forces’ public affairs office chief.

The encounter, the third in a series of battles between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the military, happened around 8:50 a.m. in Barangay San Roque in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

Around 30 rebels engaged the government troops in a fire fight for 40 minutes before they withdrew.

The military also recovered six magazines for AK-47 rifles, and a magazine for an M-16 rifle from the battle scene.

“That we had an encounter with them is proof that there are still armed rebels in Surigao del Sur and our troops are not letting up in going after them,” Detoyato said.

Capt. Patrick Martinez, public affairs officer of the 4th Infantry Division, said the troops also found three improvised explosive devices.

Martinez identified the rebels as belonging to the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 19 of the Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee.