DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - At least ten people were wounded in attacks by suspected leftist rebels in the southern Philippines, the military said today.
Seven policemen were wounded in a landmine blast along a national road in Palacapao village, Quezon town in Bukidnon province around 7:20 a.m. Sunday, said Major Christian Uy, spokesperson of the army's 4th Infantry Division.
Uy said the lawmen were part of the police 10th Regional Public Safety Battalion tasked to respond to an earlier burning of trucks hauling banana products and attack of a militia detachment by New People's Army rebels there.
A brief firefight between a combined police-army team against the insurgents erupted in the village around 9 a.m. but caused no casualties, Uy said.
Two policemen and a civilian were also wounded in an ambush by dozens of NPA rebels on a police vehicle on its way to respond to a vehicular accident in Marilog district here around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, police and military officials said.
Lt. General Aurelio Baladad, regional military chief, said he has now ordered a pursuit operation against fleeing rebels.