6 soldiers wounded during encounter with NPA rebels in Davao Del Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 11): 6 soldiers wounded during encounter with NPA rebels in Davao Del Sur

Six soldiers were wounded during an encounter with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Sitio Lutangan, Barangay Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao Del Sur Monday afternoon.

Capt. Alberto Caber, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson, said the soldiers were wounded when the rebels detonated an improvised explosive device to cover their escape.

He said the troopers were responding to reports on an NPA extortion activity in the area when the firefight took place.

Civilian reports pointed to a certain "Rangrang" as leader of the extortion unit of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee of the CPP/NPA/NDF operating in Davao Del Sur areas.

The wounded soldiers were quickly taken to the nearest local hospital for treatment.

It can be recalled that on Jan. 29, four NPA members who were on extortion activities in Sitio Matabang, Barangay Taocanga, Manay, Davao Oriental were killed in an encounter with government troops.

The soldiers recovered two M-16 automatic rifles, one AK-47, an M-4 rifle, three landmines, a cellphone and subversive documents from the rebels.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=614995