Army, NPA rebels clash anew in Malaybalay City

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Mar 11): Army, NPA rebels clash anew in Malaybalay City

CAMP OSITO D BAHIAN, Malaybalay City -- A fire fight between the Philippine Army and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels occurred March 9, at around 12:00 noon in sitio Baganao, barangay Kibalabag, Malaybalay city.

While conducting security operations, soldiers of Alpha Company, 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion, encountered and had a fierce gunbattle with the rebels believed to be members of Sentro De Grabidad (SDG) Dario, Section Committee 89 of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) under Noel Gabute aka Cesar.

After five minutes of intense fire fight, the NPA rebels withdrew towards different directions. No reports of casualty on the government troops as they pursued the rebels believed to have wounded comrades.

Colonel Jesse A. Alvarez, commander of the 403rd (Peacemaker) Brigade said, the government troops were on security patrol when some residents reported that a group of NPA is lurking in the outskirts.

He said this is the second encounter with the NPA rebels for this year in the north eastern part of Malaybalay City.

“Our continous security operation is meant to protect the communities and the populace especially those in the hinterland barangays from NPA’s threat and intimidation, and extortion as well. The people in these areas are already fed up with NPA’s terror tactics,” Col. Alvarez said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1501457670677/army-npa-rebels-clash-anew-in-malaybalay-city