ILOILO CITY -- The Philippine Army's 61st Infantry Battalion (61 IB) clashed with some 30 members of the New People's Army (NPA) Monday afternoon at the boundary of Barangay Canawilian, Janiuay, Iloilo and Barangay Trangka in Maasin town.
The soldiers were conducting foot patrol when they encountered the rebels.
The 40-minute encounter resulted to the recovery of four backpacks containing suspected personal belongings, according to Lt. Col. Sisenando Magbalot Jr., 61st IB commanding officer.
Magbalot said that they have yet to open the recovered backpacks.
"There are also traces of blood found in the area so possibly there were wounded NPAs," he said, adding that no one from the government troops was hurt.
Clearing operation in the area is still ongoing as of press time.
Magbalot said that his men are continuously conducting combat operations in areas where presence of NPA has been identified.
Magbalot added that the encounter also the result of their intensified operations against terrorist groups as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte. (PNA)
