Troops capture rebel camp, bombs in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 18, 2010) – Philippine troops captured a mountain encampment of communist insurgents following a firefight Tuesday in the restive southern region of Mindanao, officials said.

Officials said an undetermined number of insurgents were believed killed or wounded in the fighting that began at around 10 a.m. in the village of Panangan in Compostela Valley’s Maco town.

There were no reports of military casualties, said Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

He said soldiers also recovered improvised explosives, assorted munitions and three automatic rifles left behind by insurgents.

“The recovery of the bombs is a welcome development as our people will be a lot safer,” he said, citing previous roadside bombings by insurgents who were fighting for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

Garcia said troops clashed with about 40 New People’s Army members after troops attacked the insurgents’ hideout.

“Ground operation is going on in the area and security forces are tracking down NPA insurgents who fled the fighting,” he said.

The NPA is the military wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines which has been waging a secessionist war for many decades now. (Mindanao Examiner)