DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A news team of ABS-CBN Southern Mindanao narrowly escaped harm when two explosive devices went off as the convoy of policemen, soldiers and relief workers it was tailing passed by a remote area of Talaingod in Davao del Norte on Friday.
Capt. Ernest Carolina, spokesman of the military’s 10th Infantry Division, said no one on the convoy was harmed including reporter Claire Cornelio and her crew.
Carolina said the ABS CBN vehicle was following the convoy “at a distance” in Barangay Palma Gil when the explosions took place around 2:30 p.m.
An exchange of gunfire erupted after the explosion as the government forces attempted to defend their position, he said, adding that the bombs were set-off by communist rebels.
Carolina said the convoy came from a relief mission in the area following evacuations there due to the recent clashes between soldiers and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
But Lumad group Pasaka questioned the supposed relief mission, saying all the 308 Manobo families that fled areas of Talaingod are presently taking temporary shelter in Davao City.
“How can the military deliver aid there when all of the evacuees are in Davao?” Pasaka said in a statement.
As this developed, the NPA continued its atrocities and abducted a soldier in Laak, Compostela Valley on Friday, police and military officials said.
Wearing military fatigue uniforms and disguising as soldiers, some 12 communist insurgents seized Sgt. Jeric Curay at Andap village around 9:40 a.m., according to Senior Supt. Camilo Cascolan, Compostela Valley police.
Curay was on board his black Honda XRM motorcycle and was on his way to report to work when stopped at the hastily-put roadblock near the Andap barangay hall, Cascolan added.
Carolina said the kidnapped soldier is a member of the army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion. Karlos Manlupig and Frinston Lim, Inquirer Mindanao
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