2 Marines hurt in Sultan Kudarat NPA attack

CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Two Marines were slightly hurt after government forces were ambushed by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat on Thursday.

6^th Infantry Division commander Major. Gen. Cirilitio Sobejana said the two injured Marines are part of the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-2).

According to Sobejana, the troopers were ambushed as they were on patrol in Barangay Datu Ito Andong, Kalamansig at about 8:40 a.m.

Marine troops search for anti-personnel mines in a village in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat after communist rebels ambushed government forces on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2019. Photos from MBLT-2

Reports from the 1st Marine Brigade based in Kalamansig said the Marines were onboard a military truck and was passing through Sitio Ugangawon in Barangay Datu Ito when an anti-personnel mine exploded, followed by a series of gunfire from an elevated portion of the highway  where communist rebels positioned themselves.

The Marines quickly returned fire forcing the rebels to flee deep into the forest, the military said.

A follow-up operation led to the recovery of an anti-personnel landmine at the blast site.

Soldiers recover an improvised explosive. (Photo from MBLT-2)

Meanwhile, Sobejana, who is also chief of the military-led Task Force Central (TFC) has directed government troops to intensify operations against NPA rebels.

The military said communist rebels repeatedly harassed government forces and even torched several heavy equipment of a construction firm on road projects in Kalamansig for refusal to pay revolutionary taxes.

“This terrorist acts must be stopped, the military will not allow these to continue,” Sobejana said. /muf