Gov’t troops, armed men clash in Miag-ao

From Panay News (Aug 2): Gov’t troops, armed men clash in Miag-ao

Government troops and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels had a skirmish in the hinterland barangay of Alimodias, Miag-ao, Iloilo yesterday morning.

The gunfight lasted for some five minutes then the armed men withdrew, said Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB).

The clash started at around 9:20 a.m. Soldiers led by 2nd Lieutenant Harly Quibod engaged around 10 armed men.

The suspected rebels were believed to be under NPA Panay’s Southern Front Committee.

Magbalot said the armed men left trails of blood, an indication that they were wounded.

On July 30, rebels fired at an Army detachment in nearby Barangay Pudpud.

“Our men were in the area to verify reports about the presence of armed men there,” said Magbalot.

Government troops clashing with rebels are not new in Miag-ao. On May 5 this year, two died in an encounter with 61IB soldiers in Barangay Cabalaunan.

The government troops were verifying intelligence information that rebels were recruiting members and extorting money from villagers when they encountered some 15 armed men.

After a 10-minute firefight, the armed men – believed to be rebels – withdrew toward the northeast of Barangay Ongyod, leaving their two dead companions behind.

https://www.panaynews.net/govt-troops-armed-men-clash-in-miag-ao/