3 Marines wounded in clash with NPA in Gingoog

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Three Marines were wounded during a firefight with communist rebels in Gingoog City Saturday morning, a military official said.

Colonel Leopoldo Galon Jr, chief of the military’s 5th Civil Relations Group, said a Marine company — alongside police forces — was patrolling Barangay (village) Lawit when they encountered an undetermined number of New People’s Army rebels around 6:45 a.m.

A rebel was also reportedly killed in the firefight that lasted for about 10 minutes, Galon said.

It was the second clash in Gingoog after the military started a massive drive against the NPA following an ambush by the rebels on the convoy of reelectionist Mayor Ruth Guingona.

Guingona and several other aides were injured in the ambush that also killed two of her security men.

On Thursday, a Marine soldier was also hurt in another encounter with communist rebels operating in the hinterlands of the said city.