Army seizes food supplies, clashes with NPA in MisOcc

ALORAN, Misamis Occidental--Goverment forces clashed with communist guerillas in Barangay Sinampongan here Monday afternoon shortly after the Army confiscated food supplies allegedly belonging to the New People's Army (NPA).

First Lt. Paulo dela Paz, civil military operations officer of the Army's 10th Infantry Battalion based in this town, said Tuesday the clash with some 20 to 40 NPA rebels occurred shortly after they intercepted a total of 12 sacks of rice that had allegedly been intended for an NPA unit operating in this town.

The food supplies were about to be transported to the neighboring Brgy. Roxas and was intended for consumption during the NPA's 49th anniversary on March 29, Lt. Dela Paz said.

“In the last few weeks, we have been receiving reports of NPA presence in the vicinity of Aloran. We immediately we deployed our soldiers for clearing operation and to confirm reports," the Army official said.

While the soldiers were conducting patrol in the area, he said the NPA opened fire at government troops.

The firefight has prompted sover 200 individuals to evacuate and seek shelter at this town's gymnasium, said Mayor Junipher Roa.

Mayor Roa has called on the residents not to post misleading information on social media so as not to sow panic among the town's populace.

Roa said he has already requested the Army to put up a detachment in the area. (Irma Boza/PNA)