TACLOBAN CITY—A soldier was wounded in a gun battle between government troops and communist rebels on the outskirts of Lope De Vega, Northern Samar on Sunday afternoon.
The Philippine Army identified the wounded soldier as Corporal Artemio Bendo. He was given first aid in the camp before airlifted to a hospital in Catarman, Northern Samar.
Soldiers of the 43rd Infantry Battalion were patrolling the upland rebel-infested village of Sumuroy when they encountered a group of New People’s Army rebels. The firefight lasted for 10 minutes, according to a report by the police regional office here.
The rebels had undetermined number of injured fighters as they withdrew to the northwest direction upland. PNA
The Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police units were alerted on Monday to prepare for possible attacks.
This is the second clash between soldiers and NPA since the end of holiday truce on Jan. 2. The first encounter was on Jan. 3 where two rebels were killed in in the upland Hilapnitan village in Baybay City.