350 flee homes in Sarangani village due to NPA-AFP clash

KORONADAL CITY – Some 350 individuals fled their homes in a village of Alabel in Sarangani province when soldiers and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels clashed on Wednesday, the military reported on Thursday.

1Lt.  Daryll Cansancio, the spokesperson of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion, said a soldier was wounded in the clash.

Cansancio said soldiers were patrolling in Barangay Tokawal when they encountered a still undetermined number of NPA rebels.

Noel Morido, the village chieftain of Tokawal, said there were 12 families trapped at the height of the fighting but they were now safe and had joined other fleeing villagers at an evacuation center.

Cansancio said soldiers were still pursuing the fleeing rebels as of Thursday.

The evacuees had not returned home yet and were being assisted by the Alabel town government.