8 gov't troops killed in twin encounters with NPAs in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 21): 8 gov't troops killed in twin encounters with NPAs in North Cotabato

Eight government troops, including three militiamen, were killed and five others wounded following two encounters with the New People's Army (NPA) in Tulunan, North Cotabato Monday morning.

All of the government casualties resulted from landmines detonated by the rebel group, military officials in Manila said.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, said the first attack occurred at the boundary of Barangays Caridad and Bituan at around 9:20 a.m. when troops of the 38th Infantry Battalion, delivering subsistence allowance to auxiliary forces, were land mined/

Around 11:25 a.m. troops under the 57th Infantry Battalion were also land mined while on their way to Barangay New Caridad. also in Tulunan.

Four were wounded and one was killed in the incident.

"The NPAs, indifferent to the dangers posed on civilians by their persistent use of unstable improvised explosive devices that they use as precursor to an ambush, continue to violate the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law," Zagala said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=578411