COTABATO, Philippines – Five soldiers were wounded on Tuesday, June 25, due to a landmine blast during a clash with leftist rebels in Zamboanga del Sur, a military official said Wednesday, June 26.
Soldiers under 53rd Infantry Battalion were on patrol mission in the village of Dagum of Lakewood township when they encountered around 50 armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, local military ground commander Lt Col Victor Tangawohn said.
A two-hour firefight ensued, and 5 soldiers were wounded when the rebels detonated a landmine, the military official said.
Last week, the rebels abducted 5 soldiers in Davao City. They also killed 5 workers from a private firm in Agusan del Sur.
The 4,000-strong NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is waging a leftist insurgency that has killed over 40,000 people in 60 Philippine provinces since 1969. – Rappler.com
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