BULACAN — Government troops clashed again with suspected armed insurgents in Norzagaray municipality — this time in Sitio Inuman — marking the second armed encounter in the area within weeks.

According to military reports, the firefight, which occurred at dawn on 7 November, forced the armed group to retreat, leaving behind bloodstains and supplies.

Joint Task Group (JTG) 7-2 soldiers, led by the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade (703IB), encountered an undetermined number of fighters during patrol operations in the mountainous sitio, a known transit corridor for rebel groups. No casualties were reported among government forces, but blood trails and abandoned gear, including ammunition pouches and medical kits, suggested that members of the opposing side were injured.

The recent clash follows a skirmish on 18 October in Sitio Balagbag, also in Barangay San Lorenzo, where government troops killed one armed individual and recovered rifles, medical supplies, and documents listing alleged rebel sympathizers. Both sitios in Norzagaray have become focal points in government 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,” stated Brigadier General Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV, commander of the 703IB.

Troops scouring the site recovered improvised shelters, cooking equipment, and documents allegedly containing hand-drawn maps of nearby barangays. Authorities are now analyzing the materials to determine the group’s affiliations and operational patterns.

Norzagaray’s rugged terrain and sparse population have long made it a haven for armed movements. Military sources note that recent clashes suggest displaced groups are testing alternate routes after intensified crackdowns in Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces.

The Philippine Army has since intensified patrols in adjacent sitios, with checkpoints established along key access roads. Civilians have been advised to coordinate with local authorities before entering forested zones.

As pursuit operations continue, the military vowed to “neutralize threats” while appealing for community cooperation.

“Peace is a shared mission,” Brig. Gen. Osias added.