Troops, rebels clash in Leon Postigo town

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (May 4): Troops, rebels clash in Leon Postigo town

THE timely response of the military forces have stopped a group of New People’s Army (NPA) from further extorting residents in the hinterlands of Zamboanga del Norte, an official said Saturday.

Troops from the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Leonel Nicolas clashed on Friday with a group of NPA rebels, who were taking rest coming from extortion operation.

“The rebels are camping in the forested area believed to be fresh from extortion activities in the nearby communities of Leon Postigo town when they were spotted by the troops,” Nicolas said.

The NPA rebels fled to different directions following a 30-minute firefight leaving behind belongings and valuables believed to have forcibly collected from the residents, Nicolas said.

Recovered belongings were one caliber .357 revolver, three sacks of food stuff extorted from the residents, five jungle packs containing personal belongings, subversive documents of high intelligence value, medical equipments and 50-rounds of live ammunition for M-16 Armalite rifle, he said.

The NPA rebels belong to the FLX “A” of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee operating in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, he added.

Nicolas said troops were deployed to pursue the NPA rebels to put to a stop of the rebels’ extortion activities in the hinterlands of Zamboanga del Norte.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2013/05/04/troops-rebels-clash-leon-postigo-town-280785