4 killed as soldiers, NPAs clash in southern Mindanao

TAGUM CITY – Four people were killed in a series of clashes between government troops and communist rebels in southern Mindanao on Wednesday, the military reported on Thursday.

The dead included three New People’s Army guerrillas and a soldier, said Capt. Rhyan Batchar, the public affairs chief of the army’s 10th Infantry Division.

Several weapons and improvised bombs were recovered during the gun battles in the towns of San Isidro in Davao del Norte and Laak, in Compostela Valley, he said.

Batchar said the first encounter happened as soldiers from the Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion chanced upon an undetermined number of communist insurgents at Sitio (Sub-village) Booy in Barangay Pimamuno in San Isidro around 1:55 p.m.

Two unidentified rebels and a soldier were killed in the encounter.

He said another firefight erupted in Sitio Tugpahan in Barangay Imelda in Laak town past 2 p.m. but resulted in no casualties on both sides.

Batchar said three assault rifles and an improvised explosive device were recovered, believed left behind by the rebels.

At 5:50 p.m. on the same day, another clash took place in Sitio Booy, which resulted in the death of another rebel, according to Batchar.

Pursuit operations were continuing against the  insurgents, he said.  SFM/rga