PAGADIAN CITY — Eight soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion (IB) were slightly wounded in a clash with the New People’s Army in Barangay Nueva Vista, Don Victoriano, Misamis Occidental shortly before midnight on Wednesday, reports reaching here today said.
Lt. Col. John Andrada, 10th IB commander, said the soldiers were hurt in an explosion that followed the strafing by suspected NPA guerrillas of a military detachment at Nueva Vista around 11 p.m. on April 10.
Andrada said a reinforcement team was pursuing those involved in the strafing when an improvised bomb exploded near the barangay hall of Napangan, wounding the troops.
In the ensuing exchange of fire, several suspected rebels were also wounded, said Andrada, quoting reports from residents in the area.
As a result of the clash, 72 individuals from the area immediately evacuated to the municipal gym of Don Victoriano while 80 others rushed to the Napangan barangay evacuation center for safety.
Don Victoriano Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Action Officer Raul Tambur said 80 residents failed to go to their respective evacuation pickup points due to the ongoing encounter and instead took shelter at the barangay evacuation center.
Tambur said the evacuees had been provided with meals and later with transportation assistance back to their village when the military declared it was safe for them to return home.