5 Claver town barangays under state of calamity - report

MANILA, Philippines - Five barangays in Claver town in Surigao del Norte have been placed under a state of calamity as government troops and alleged communist rebels battle it out, a television report said Wednesday night. At least 13 people were killed and 27 others have been injured in the "ongoing battle," the News on Q report said. The same report said that the 13 dead include nine alleged members of the New People's Army (NPA) and four government troopers. The report said that the battle started over the weekend when the rebels gathered surfers and others in Siargao. Government operations backed by military helicopters, the report said, forced the rebels to leave the place without their "hostages." The rebels, the report said, withdrew from Siargao and entered Claver town where they mingled with the residents. Some residents have evacuated their houses and moved into churches. - GMANews.TV