1 soldier killed, another wounded in Army clashes with NPA rebels

DAVAO CITY – Army troops on Sunday fought two battles with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Mindanao – the first one in Laak town in Compostela Valley, where no casualties were reported, and in Asuncion, Davao del Norte, in which a soldier was killed and another was injured.

The first clash took place around 3:39 p.m. in Lower Dalimdim in Barangay Naga in Laak, according to Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, spokesperson of the Southern Mindanao Police Regional Office.

The second clash took place around 4:30 p.m. in Barangay Sonlon in Asuncion, which resulted in the death of Pfc. Arman Campus and the wounding of Pfc. Ruben Lambac.

Driz said the Asuncion firefight was continuing as of 7 p.m.

She said the military had already requested air support against the rebels in Asuncion.

On Saturday, communist rebels also ambushed but failed to harm 11 police officers in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.

Personnel of the Kiblawan police, led by Senior Insp. Erich Von Requilman, were conducting patrol in a remote area of the town around 2:30 p.m. when they were fired at by NPA rebels, according to Driz.

She said operations against the rebels were continuing in Kiblawan. /atm