Gov't forces clash with NPA rebels in Bulacan

From ABS-CBN (Dec 1): Gov't forces clash with NPA rebels in Bulacan

Government forces clashed with members of the New People's Army (NPA) who were allegedly extorting food from residents of Dona Remedios town in Bulacan, the military said.

Maj. Emmanuel Garcia, commander of the 1st Civil Relations Group based in Camp Aquino in Tarlac City, said troops from the Army's 48th Infantry Battalion were sent to Sitio Maputi in Barangay Camachin after receiving reports that a number of rebels were allegedly extorting food items from residents of the community and other nearby areas.

The group caught up with the rebels at around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. A 30-minute firefight ensued thereafter.

“(The platoon) was dispatched to conduct security patrol due to persistent reports of people in the presence of armed men in the locality which resulted to a gun battle,” said Garcia.

The Army recovered an M-14 rifle, a laptop, a portable DVD player, a cellular phone, a transistor radio, a sack of rice, one pack of sardines, two backpacks and subversive documents from the alleged rebels.

No one was reported killed or injured from the government forces. The military believes members of the opposite party were wounded.

A similar clash with NPA rebels happened last January in Barangay Kalakawan, resulting in the death of seven rebels. One of the rebels turned out to be a member of the Morong 43.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/12/01/13/govt-forces-clash-npa-rebels-bulacan