2 soldiers killed, 3 wounded in North Cotabato clash

DAVAO CITY – Days after communist rebels attacked a military detachment and the police headquarters in Matanao, Davao del Sur, two government forces were killed while three others were wounded in a firefight in North Cotabato on Saturday.

Captain Ernest Carolina, spokesperson of the military’s 10th Infantry Division, said troops under the 1002nd Brigade were conducting pursuit operations against members of the New People’s Army who attacked Matanao when they encountered an undetermined number of rebels in Sitio (sub-village) Timodos, Barangay (village) Manobisa in the town of Magpet at around 9:55 a.m.

A fierce firefight ensued and lasted for an hour, Carolina said.

The operating state security forces sustained casualties after several explosives were detonated by the rebels while the soldiers were maneuvering.