227 flee homes in Misamis Occidental village amid clash

PAGADIAN CITY–At least 227 individuals fled their homes in several villages of Aloran in Misamis Occidental when soldiers and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels clashed in Barangay Sinampongan there, officials said Tuesday.

The residents, however, returned home on Tuesday after the military gave its go signal, the Aloran town government said in a statement.

Lt. Col. Ryan Severo, commander of the 10th Infantry Battalion, said the clash took place on Sunday when soldiers conducted a focused operation against NPA members forcing villagers to join them.

“There were no casualties on the government side,” Severo said, but added that the military believed the NPA suffered casualties.