Soldiers led by colonel escape landmine blast

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—An Army battalion commander and ten of his men escaped unhurt when a landmine believed planted by New People’s Army rebels exploded prematurely in Irosin, Sorsogon, Wednesday morning, police said.

Col. Epimaco Makalisang, commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Sorsogon City, and his men were on board a military truck when the landmine was detonated just as they were approaching the vicinity of the villages of Magdagunson and Buenavista at around 8:30 a.m., said Supt. Wilson Asueta, Bicol police spokesperson.

Asueta said the Army officer and his men were on their way back to their headquarters after a visit to a camp in Irosin to award medals and citations to soldiers when the attack happened.

Army patrols were dispatched to track down the communist rebels, he said.