ILOILO CITY, Philippines - No one was hurt when the 82nd Charlie Company of the Philippine Army, based at Brgy. Igtalungon in Igbaras town of Iloilo, was attacked by armed men of the New People's Army early morning of last Thursday.
Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas, director of Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO), said around 15 armed men opened fire at the soldiers at the camp, near the headquarters of the 82nd Infantry Battation's Charlie Company.
Brigadier Gen. Arnold Quiapo, 301st Infantry Brigade commander, said the attack took place at around 2:30 a.m. Thursday.
"It was very dark and they (rebels) positioned themselves at a distance of not less than 300 meters," Quiapo said, adding that it was an act of compliance of the local NPA unit. "They have to conduct a quarterly tactical offensive against government troops," he said.
Police recovered from the scene 55 empty shells of M-16 rifle, seven empty shells of M-14, an empty shell of a .45-caliber revolver and an M203 fragmentation grenade.
Salinas said a manhunt operation has continued to this day at the town's Mount Kaluoy where the rebels were believed to have fled. Igbaras town has been identified as one of the rebel-infested towns in Iloilo, he said. (FREEMAN)