PANGASINAN – A fierce encounter between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the military in Mangatarem town here on Tuesday, November 24, had residents fearing for their lives.
Mangatarem Mayor Ramil P. Ventenilla expressed alarm over the encounter that broke out at around 5 a.m.
Footages of the encounter even went viral that all the more instilled fear among the people who were afraid of being caught in the crossfire between about 40 heavily armed members of Komiteng Larangang Gerilya (KLG) and soldiers of the 702nd Brigade near the boundary with Tarlac.
It was reported that the military deployed howitzer cannons to provide support for its ground troops, firing at least six rounds at around 7 a.m.
Meanwhile a military report said that a hot pursuit operation was underway to hunt down members of the NPA group.
There was still no reported casualty, as of press time.
The military has dispatched some personnel in Barangay Andangin in Mangatarem on stand-by for possible insertion in the encounter site.