Soldiers clash with bandits in Zamboanga del Sur

From the Manila Times (Jan 30): Soldiers clash with bandits in Zamboanga del Sur

Government soldiers clashed with bandits in a sea battle off the province of Zamboanga del Sur killing, or wounding a still undetermined number of gunmen, officials said on Tuesday.

General Ricardo Rainier Cruz 3rd, commander of the First Infantry Division, said that the gun battle lasted for about two hours. The bandits, he said, managed to escape in a coastal village called Bacao in the neighboring Malangas town, leaving their motorized boat behind.

“We still don’t know how many gunmen were killed or wounded, but the bloodstains were all over the boat. Our troops are scouring the area to track down the bandits,” Cruz told The Manila Times, adding that there was no casualty on the military side.

He said that the soldiers were patrolling the sea when they spotted the gunmen and pursued them.

“Initial military reports identified the leader of the gang as Kiyang Balimbingan, a notorious extortionist operating in the province. The gang is also preying on small fishermen in Zamboanga Sur,” Cruz said.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/40428-soldiers-clash-with-bandits-in-zamboanga-del-sur