Hundreds flee homes as troops, rebels clash in Butuan

Hundreds were displaced in a clash between soldiers and communist rebels in Butuan City, officials said Friday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also said 10 soldiers went missing due to the encounter but the Army denied this.

In a report, NDRRMC said a total of 750 persons or 150 families fled their homes due to the clash last Thursday in barangay Anticala in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

About 80 families or 400 persons are now staying inside Tagkiling Tribal Elementary School in the said barangay.

"There are also 10 Special Forces personnel missing due to the encounter," NDRRMC said in a report issued Friday.

The military, however, denied that some of its soldiers went missing after the clash.

“All of our soldiers are accounted for. No one was hit during the encounter and there were no casualties. No one was abducted,” said Lt. Col. Eugenio Osias IV, spokesman of the Army’s 4th division.

Osias claimed their troops even seized ammunition and backpacks from the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

“We were able to recover backpacks, communication, medicine, documents and ammunition,” he said.

Regional disaster management officials are working closely with the police to get more details on the clash.

NDRRMC said 80 family hygiene kits, 96 sleeping mats, 96 mosquito nets and 200 blankets have been distributed to the affected residents.

Food items were also distributed to residents in evacuation centers. – Alexis Romero