Troops under Joint Task Force Zampelan clashed with a group of communist rebels during a combat operation in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental Saturday morning.

According to the Commanding Officer of the 10th Infantry Battalion (10IB), Lt. Col. Ryan Severo, the troops responded to reports of CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) rebels harassing the civilian community in the area.

The firefight with the communist rebel group lasted for 40 minutes. It ended when the enemy group withdrew.

One soldier sustained minor injury in the firefight while there is no reported casualty from the rebels.

During the clearing operation, government troops recovered one AK47 rifle with four empty magazines, two half sacks of rice, a stash of dried fish, and two backpacks.

Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, 1st Infantry Division commander, appealed to the NPA to surrender to the authorities.

“Let’s give peace a chance! We are calling on the remaining members of the NPA to peacefully surrender and avail of the programs of the government for the rebel returnees who want to go back to the folds of the law and live peacefully with their families,” said Murillo.