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
