Gov’t troops clash anew with NPA rebels in Leon hinterlands

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 24): Gov’t troops clash anew with NPA rebels in Leon hinterlands

A chance encounter between government troops and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) took place in Sitio Mangkopa, Brgy. Manampunay, Leon, Iloilo early Monday morning.

Major Rey Tiongson, spokesman of 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID), Philippine Army (PA), said the encounter happened about 5:00 a.m.

Soldiers from the 82nd Infantry Battalion (82IB) responded to verify intelligence information on the presence of insurgents in the hinterlands of the said barangay when they encountered seven rebels.

Tiongson said the firefight lasted for almost 15 minutes and the rebels later fled towards the forested area in the hinterland barangay.

The 3ID spokesman said there were no reported casualties from both sides during the recent armed clash, though soldiers of the 82IB believed several cadre members have been injured as traces of bloodstains were found in the scene of the encounter.

It was learned that Sitio Mangkopa in Barangay Manampunay, Leon is situated near the boundary of Tubungan, also in Iloilo.

Citing report from soldiers of 82IB in the field, the rebel group was believed to be members of the Napoleon Tumagtang Command of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army operating in the hinterlands of Leon and adjoining towns of Tubungan and Calinog, Iloilo.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=537688