Army and rebels engage in gun battle in Kabugao, Apayao

Kabugao, Apayao – The army recently engaged in an armed encounter against rebels on Saturday in Kabugao, Apayao.

No injuries were reported on the side of the government forces, but the rebels they faced might have been wounded during the gun battle, authorities say.

On Monday, the 503rd Infantry Brigade informed that the troops from the 98th Infantry Battalion faced around 20 rebels in Sitio Dagui, Maragat on April 5 after they responded to a report about the presence of an armed group in the area.

A firefight ensued between the two groups before the suspected members of the Regional Guerrilla Unit, Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee withdrew. No one was hurt among the soldiers, while some of the rebels might have been wounded in the clash due to traces of blood found by the authorities at the encounter site.

After the clash, the troops recovered war materials such as 2 M16A1 rifle, 1 Garand rifle, 1 M203 with three 3 40mm HE ammunitions, 1 9mm 1911 pistol, 5 long magazines, 1 short magazine with ammunition, a rifle grenade, and 22 improvised explosive devices.

503rd Acting Commander, Colonel Darrel Bañez renewed his call to the remaining rebels to surrender, saying, “Your prolonged armed struggle has caused immense suffering and displacement to countless innocent civilians. The government has extended numerous offers of peace and reconciliation, but these efforts have been met with resistance.”