NPA kills one soldier, injures another

From ABS-CBN (Dec 15): NPA kills one soldier, injures another

Alleged members of the New People's Army (NPA) killed one elite soldier and injured another during an ambush in San Fernando town in Bukidnon on Saturday night.

Earlier in the day, the rebels also raided the Don Victoriano Chiongbian town police station in Misamis Occidental and sequestered a number of firearms which include an M203 grenade launcher, nine handguns, a cal. 60 machine gun, seven armalite rifles, and various ammunition.

According to Captain Christian Uy, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division, the ambush in San Fernando happened at 8 p.m.

Uy said that the troops were sent to Barangay Bunakaw in San Fernando after the army received reports confirming the rebels’ presence in the area. When they were already returning to their camp, they were attacked by roughly five rebels.

"The rebels withdrew as the troops returned fire," said Uy.

Uy reported that the soldier who was killed is a private first class while the injured holds a corporal rank.

The army refused to reveal the soldiers’ identities until their families have been duly notified.

Uy said the series of attacks is part of the celebration of the 45th foundation anniversary of the NPA’s political arm, the Communist Party of the Philippines, on December 26.

"They just want to project that they are still a force to reckon with when their strength continues to decline. They usually do this when their anniversary is approaching. What they want to celebrate is the number of people they kill.”

The incident is the third encounter between the rebels and the government soldiers since the former attacked the Kibawe town police station in Bukidnon last Thursday.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/12/15/13/npa-kills-one-soldier-injures-another