PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON – Thirteen members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and 5 members of the army were killed Sunday in three clashes in Quezon, Bukidnon.

In a military report furnished to Bukidnon Online, 4th Infantry Division spokesman Maj. Michelle Anayron said that the encounters happened in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Barangay Lipa and Barangay Kiburiao, both within the area of the Municipality of Quezon, Bukidnon.

Anayron said that members of the Maramag-based 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) clashed with a small NPA camp at around 7 am Sunday. That encounter resulted in the death of five rebels and one government soldier. The raid lasted for roughly 4 hours before the rebels retreated.

However, at around 11:20 am, pursuing 29IB troops caught up with the retreating Reds at Barangay Lipa. A three-hour gunbattle ensued, according to Anayron. Four more government soldiers died, one got injured and six more NPA members were killed.

The third clash happened in the sugar fields in Barangay Kiburiao the next day, Monday, February 23, 2009. Two more rebels were killed while three sustained injuries.

The said clashes in Bukidnon between government troops and rebels come in the wake of this year’s Kaamulan Festival 2009 soft opening. (Bukidnon Online News)

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