1 wounded as soldiers, NPA rebels clash in Samar

MANILA, Philippines – One soldier was wounded in clashes between security forces and communist rebels in Samar on Monday morning, the military said.

Soldiers were on patrol when they chanced about 15 members of the New People’s Army in Diit village, Matuguinao town at about 7 a.m., Captain Amado Gutierrez, spokesman of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said.

A soldier identified as Private First Class Eduardo Carcillar was wounded in the 10-minute firefight. He was airlifted to Camp Lukban Station Hospital and given medical attention.

An abandoned NPA camp was recovered by troops conducting operations between Pio del Pilar and Can-Maria villages, both of Lapinig in Northern Samar.

The camp has a makeshift hall and tents that can accommodate 30 people.

Troops assessed that the NPA camp was abandoned few days ago, Gutierrez said.