4 soldiers wounded in Albay encounter

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Four Army soldiers and two  rebels were wounded in an early morning clash Saturday between patrolling troops and New People’s Army guerrillas in an upland area on the outskirts of this city.

The encounter, which occurred near the village of  Talahip, some 20 kilometers from Legazpi, happened at 5:30 a.m., when soldiers on patrol were wounded by an explosive device detonated by the rebels as the soldiers passed, said Inspector Arthur Gomez, the Philippine National Police spokesman in Bicol.

The blast was followed by a 10-minute firefight between the Army troopers and a 10-man NPA group believed to be led by Antonio Abadiza, he said.

The wounded soldiers, identified only by their surnames, were Corporal Barra, Privates First Class Renon, Navarro and Magistrado, all of whom suffered shrapnel wounds, said Gomez.

Two rebels were also wounded but were brought along by their fleeing comrades, according to Gomez.

Captain Divar Crisostomo, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade, said the troops went to the village after receiving reports that rebels were intimidating newly elected barangay officials in the area.

Captain Mardjorie Panesa, public information officer of 9th Infantry Division based in Pili, Camarines Sur, said reinforcements recovered a .45-caliber pistol, ammunition for a M14, three backpacks containing documents, six hammocks, six tents and two cellphones.