COTABATO CITY – Two army soldiers were wounded in a clash with communist rebels in the Muslim province of Lanao del Sur in southern Philippines, officials said Monday.
Lt. Angel Manglapus, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said patrolling soldiers clashed over the weekend with New People’s Army rebels in the village of Sabala Bantayao in Lumba Bayabao town.
There was no immediate report of enemy casualties and Manglapus did not release the names of the wounded soldiers. But he said troops were tracking down about 180 rebels when they stumbled upon an outpost of the NPA manned by at least 10 insurgents and a firefight ensued.
“The encounter was a result of combat operations which was conducted by AFP forces to hunt down approximately one hundred and eighty NPA members in the town,” Manglapus said, adding, the rebels crossed over the province from the neighboring Bukidnon province to elude military campaign there.
He said the presence of rebels have alarmed the villagers and tipped off the military.
“The troops patrolled the area until personnel from the 49th Infantry Battalion and the 15th Division Reconnaissance Company discovered the NPA outpost and engaged with the enemy forces. Two were slightly hurt on the government’s side while the casualties on the enemy’s side are yet to be determined,” Manglapus said.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, has urged rebels to surrender peacefully.
“Instead of continuing a futile armed struggle where thousands of innocent citizens are being abused and caught in the crossfire, the NPA members should consider surrendering and avail the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood and Integration Program so they could enjoy living normal lives and spend quality time with their loved ones,” he said.
The NPA has been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a separate communist state in the country. Peace talks with the government in the past and the current Duterte administration had collapsed after rebel leaders demanded the release of hundreds of jailed members before signing a cease-fire deal. (Mindanao Examiner)
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