Troops Clashed With Commies In Restive Bukidnon Province

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Banos / 09 Nov) - Patrolling government soldiers and militias clashed Thursday with suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the town of Maramag in the southern Philippine province of Bukidnon, a regional army spokesman said.

Maj. Samuel C. Sagun, of the 4th Infantry Division, said the fighting erupted in the village of Dagumbayan, but there were no casualties on both sides.

He said troops recovered two M16 automatic rifles and ammunition after the firefight. He said the rebels retreated and that soldiers were pursuing the gunmen, believed to be members of the NPA's SECOM 1, Front Committee 6 of Northern Mindanao Regional Committee (NMRC).

Troops early this week also discovered an abandoned rebel camp in the village of Bonacao in Bukidnon's San Fernando town.

The province is a known stronghold of the NPA, which is fighting the government for the establishment of Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner/Kagay-an.com)