Manila, Oct 29: Soldiers killed at least five communist rebels in a clash in the southern Philippines' Agusan Del Norte province, a military official said today. The clash came after army troops, acting on a tip from civilians yesterday, waited for a week for the rebels to hike through a mountain pass in Jabonga town, according to Maj. Johnny Macanas, a spokesman for the army's 4th infantry division. He said soldiers seized five m-16 rifles, an m-14 rifle and four grenades from the dead new people's army guerrillas, while six other rebels were able to flee.
No casualties were reported on the government side.

The Philippine air force sent two ov-10 planes today to bomb the retreating rebels, who fled toward the adjacent province of Agusan Del Sur, Macanas added. He said the army's 20th infantry batallion received information from civilians about the movement of 11 rebels in that area more than a week ago. Twenty-one soldiers from an army platoon went to the village of maraiging to check on the reports.

Bureau Report