Amid Typhoon Odette’s disastrous battering of Masbate island-Province early Friday morning, state troops clashed with suspected rebels, killing 4 rebel fighters.
The firefight occured at the boundary of Barangay Baras, Esperanza and Barangay Manlut-od in Placer town.
9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army reported that combined police and Army troops conducted operations in the area after receiving information about the presence of the armed group.
The firefight lasted for an hour with troops seizing weapons such as R4 rifles, M16 rifles, M653 rifles, garand rifles, rifle grenades, hand grenades, anti-personnel mines and other propaganda materials.
No casualty was reported on the Army, police side. The 4 dead rebels are still unidentified.
General Adonis Bajao, acting Division Commander of 9th ID, said they will continue to tighten security in the region amid the disaster caused by Typhoon Odette.