SOME 36 families from Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental have evacuated to the capitol grounds here since Wednesday because of alleged fresh skirmishes between government and rebel forces.
About 160 evacuees have sought refuge here from Sitio Mincamansi, Barangay Banglay in Lagonglong for fear of being caught in the crossfires. They are being taken care of by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
But Lt. Col. Francis Carandang, commander of the 58th Infantry Battalion, denied that soldiers have clashed with the New People’s Army in the barangay.
He however said soldiers were fielded to Mincamansi for security patrol operations.
Carandang said there were NPA sightings in the village, and rebels there “harassed” military patrol bases there.
Soldiers found a shotgun, M14 ammunition and NPA documents in the area recently, said Carandang.
Carandang said there was a report about gunbursts in Mincamansi at around 7 pm on Wednesday but investigation is ongoing. (nitz arancon)
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