MANILA — The 5th Infantry Division has deployed more troops in Cagayan province to prevent communist rebels from conducting extortion and terrorism activities in relation to the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
“The series of skirmishes between the 17th (Infantry Battalion) troopers and the (rebels) confirmed the regrouping of the terrorist group in Zinundungan Valley. That is what we are preventing, the launching of their plans against the people, local officials and our troops in connection with the upcoming election,” 5th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Perfecto M. Rimando Jr., said in a statement Saturday.
Deployment took place after troopers from the 17th Infantry Division engaged rebel forces at Barangay Balanni, Sto Nino, Cagayan last May 3.
In the said encounter, five troopers were wounded while an undetermined number of rebels were killed and hurt. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
