MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — Government troops once again clashed with suspected armed insurgents in Norzagaray, this time in Sitio Inuman, marking the second armed encounter in the municipality in just a few weeks.

Military reports said the firefight broke out at dawn on 7 November, forcing the armed group to retreat. Troops found bloodstains and abandoned supplies at the scene, a grim reminder of the confrontation.

Soldiers from Joint Task Group (JTG) 7-2, under the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade, engaged an undetermined number of fighters while patrolling the mountainous sitio — a known transit corridor for rebel groups. No casualties were reported on the government side, but the trails of blood and left-behind gear, including ammunition pouches and medical kits, suggest injuries on the opposing side.

This clash follows a similar encounter on 18 October in Sitio Balagbag, San Lorenzo, where troops killed one armed individual and recovered rifles, medical supplies and documents listing alleged rebel sympathizers. Both sitios, nestled in Norzagaray’s rugged San Lorenzo barangay, have become key focus areas in efforts to disrupt insurgent movements across Bulacan’s hinterlands.

“These engagements reflect our sustained pressure to deny armed elements sanctuary. We are methodically addressing hotspots,” said Brigadier General Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV, commander of the 703IB.

Troops scouring the area also recovered makeshift shelters, cooking equipment and handwritten maps of nearby barangays. Authorities are analyzing the materials to determine the group’s affiliations and operational patterns.

Norzagaray’s remote terrain and sparse population have long made it a haven for armed groups. Military sources say the recent clashes suggest displaced fighters are testing alternate routes after crackdowns in Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces.

Local leaders are urging caution. Barangay captain Rogelio Dimasalang of Pulang Lupa said, “We support the military’s efforts, but we hope these clashes won’t disrupt the farming season.”

The Philippine Army has intensified patrols in surrounding sitios and set up checkpoints along key access roads. Civilians were advised to coordinate with local authorities before entering forested areas.

As pursuit operations continue, the military vowed to “neutralize threats” while appealing for community cooperation. “Peace is a shared mission,” Osias added.