ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - At least five soldiers were wounded when their group encountered at least 50 heavily-armed members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a remote village in Lakewood town, Zamboanga del Sur on Tuesday morning.
Capt. Jefferson Somera, acting spokesman of the 1st Army Division based in Labangan town, said that the fighting lasted for two hours. He said the rebels' group also suffered heavy casualty.
Somera said soldiers under the 53rd Infantry Battalion initially received information that a group of rebels were conducting a house-to-house visit foraging on the villagers.
He said that responding soldiers were met with heavy gunfire and landmine blasts.
“At least fice soldiers were slightly wounded from the blast. But the troops retaliated and repelled the rebels with undetermined casualties after about two hours of fighting,†Somera said.
Names of the wounded soldiers were not made available as their families have yet to be informed of the incident.
The rebels immediately retreated dragging along their wounded comrades, the military official added.
He said troops were still pursuing the rebels.