Marines push Reds deeper into Sultan Kudarat jungle

From the Philippine News Agency (May 16): Marines push Reds deeper into Sultan Kudarat jungle

Battle-tested Philippine Marine troopers clashed with fleeing communist rebels in remote Barangay Sangay, Kalamansig town, Sultan Kudarat late Monday afternoon, the Philippine Marines said.

The 15-minute clash resulted in the recovery of two high-powered rifles left by New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels who fled deeper into the mountains of Kalamansig and Sen. Ninoy Aquino towns, both in Sultan Kudarat.

Brig. Gen. Melquiades Ordiales, commander of 1st Marine Brigade, said the communist rebels in Barangay Sangay were part ofthe NPA guerillas that the Marines clashed on Friday last week in Barangay Hinalaan, also in Kalamansig town.

Ordiales said residents of Barangay Sangay reported to village officials about the presence of heavily armed men in their midst. In turn, the village officials reported the matter to the officials of Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-6).

Troops also recovered spent shells, a bandolier and other military paraphernalia.

He said relief goods and other emergency items are to be distributed Tuesday by the local government of Kalamansig to some 100 families displaced by the skirmishes.

The Marines, according to Ordiales, will sustain its effort to look into the concerns of the affected Indigenous Peoples in the conflict areas.

At least seven firearms and four improvised explosive devices were recovered by government troops in Barangay Hinalaan, Kalamansig last Friday after a brief firefight between MBLT-6 troopers and about 50 NPA rebels.

The rebels have infiltrated upland villages bordering the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/988063