NEWSFLASH

GOVT RETAKES LANAO MILF CAMP, 26 REBELS DEAD

Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, April 27, 2000 - Army troops captured a month-old Muslim rebel camp in the southern Philippines after fierce fighting that killed at least 26 guerrillas.

The Philippine flag now flies from a wooden pole at the Moro Islamic Liberation Front camp in Pacalundo in southern Lanao del Norte's Balo-i town.

Army Col. Samuel Bagasin said at least 26 rebels were killed and one soldier was wounded when troops launched air and ground attacks on the Pacalundo camp.

More than 500 guerrillas in the camp retreated toward nearby Lanao del Sur province during the fighting.

Meanwhile, Philippine Marines, backed by helicopter gunships, were continuing an attack on a strategic MILF camp, which houses two-way radio communication facilities for the rebels.

Lanao del Norte officials have been complaining of extortion by the MILF rebels, and there has been a clamor for the military to drive the rebels away to allow repairs on steel power pylons destroyed by the guerrillas.

The destruction of the power pylons triggered a massive power outage in the southern Mindanao region that lasted for several hours