7 soldiers hurt in NPA attacks in Compostela

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – At least seven soldiers were wounded in simultaneous attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Laak town in Compostela Valley Tuesday night.

NPA guerrillas fired at a group of the Army’s 46th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Inakayan, and detonated a landmine in Barangay Ampawid while men of the 25th Infantry Battalion were on their way to their camp in the Laak town proper.

The Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion identified the wounded soldiers as Pfcs. Flores Rotela and Alvin Consigna of the 46th IB; and 1Lt. Benjie Jimenez, Cpl. Joveny Tablason, and Pfcs. Julius Palma, Volter Cabrestante and Rey Asoy of the 25th IB.

The soldiers were treated at the Laak Hospital, except for Jimenez who was transferred to Tagum Doctors Hospital because of a facial wound.

The insurgents also detonated a landmine in Barangay La Filipina while men of the 46th IB were transporting construction materials, but no soldiers were wounded.

Meanwhile, authorities said the death toll in the NPA attack on a mining community in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Tuesday has reached 19 – 13 rebels, four Manobos, a soldier and a witness in last year’s killing of a tribal elder. – With Ben Serrano