Rebels hurt in clash with gov't troops in Nueva Ecija

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 15): Rebels hurt in clash with gov't troops in Nueva Ecija

BALER, Aurora -- An undetermined number of communist rebels were wounded in a clash between soldiers of the 91st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in this town and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Col. Jose Mari F. Torrenueva II, 91IB commander, in an interview on Thursday said government troopers were conducting combat operation in the said area when they encountered some 20 NPA members.



He said a firefight broke out at around 4 p.m. that lasted for 15 minutes, resulting in injuries to some of the rebels.

Torrenueva said the insurgents brought along their wounded comrades while withdrawing from the encounter site.

The troops are now conducting clearing operations on the enemy's escape route, he added.

“Checkpoints have been placed to block all possible exits of the retreating terrorists,” Torrenueva said.

Recovered at the encounter site were three backpacks, assorted male and female clothes, medical kits, 30 ammunitions for M14 rifle (7.62mm), foodstuffs and subversive documents.

Torrenueva said soldiers remain on guard and on track against NPA threats and will continue their massive pursuits operations against the terrorists.

“We will continue our mission until those terrorists are decimated and destroyed. They are purely bandits and collecting revolutionary taxes in some local officials and private companies,” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1054003