Alexandre Cabales, acting chief of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the clash occurred after ground troops encountered a 40-man rebel band at Barangay L.S. He said the rebel group was planning to avenge the seizure of the communist camp in Boy Casison through an ambush against military personnel but failed as security forces anticipated the plot. An hour-long fighting ensued with the rebel band, after which the insurgents withdrew leaving 8 of their comrades dead. The troops recovered six high-powered firearms consisting of five armalite rifles and an M60 machine gun left by the fleeing rebels. “We will not lower our guards against any arm threat that can harm the peaceful leaving of our people,” Clement said.

Source: The Standard July 12, 2017 15:56 UTC