DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 20, 2012) – Communist rebels wounded two government soldiers in an ambush in Davao City in the southern Philippines, officials said Friday.
Officials said New People’s Army rebels attacked the soldiers who were part of a team securing health workers in Marilog district. The attack, which occurred late Thursday, left two soldiers wounded, said Lt. Col. Gabriel Viray, commander of the 84th Infantry Battalion.
“The soldiers were on a convoy (of two trucks) and had been tasked to pick-up the medical personnel of Marilog District Hospital who are on a three-day medical and feeding mission in Gumitan,” he said, adding the ambush sparked a 30-minute gun battle in the village.
“The soldiers were able to retaliate which resulted to a 30-minute firefight,” he said.
The attack, Viray said, will not affect the deployment of security forces in Marilog, which is a known rebel stronghold.
“Despite the incident, our desire to reach out to the people and provide security assistance to those who extend basic services in remote areas will not falter,” he said.
The NPA is fighting to overthrow the democratic government and establish its own Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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