COTABATO CITY – Marines clashed with communist rebels that left one soldier dead and another injured in southern Philippines, officials said Sunday.
The weekend fighting erupted in the village called Sangay in Sultan Kudarat’s Kalamansig town where members of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 fought with the New People’s Army. The soldiers were sent to the area after villagers reported the presence of the insurgents.
“During the encounter, a marine troop suffered a serious injury and died at a hospital in Cotabato City. He paid the ultimate sacrifice in fighting terrorism in Central Mindanao. Another troop was also wounded and is already in a stable condition. Both soldiers suffered multiple shrapnel wounds on the different parts of their bodies,” a statement released by the 6th Infantry Division said.
There was no report of enemy casualties.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, division commander, said the operation against the rebels will be relentless and branded the group as terrorists. He also condoled with the family of the slain soldier. He did not release the identities of the casualties.
The rebels have been fighting for many decades now to overthrow the democratic government and establish a communist state. (Mindanao Examiner)
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