7 soldiers killed, 8 others hurt in clashes with suspected NPAs in Mindanao

From GMA News (May 7): 7 soldiers killed, 8 others hurt in clashes with suspected NPAs in Mindanao

Seven soldiers were killed while eight others were wounded following separate clashes with suspected New People's Army rebels in Mindanao on Wednesday, military and police reports said.

The first incident occurred in Davao City when elements of the Army's 69th Infantry Battalion engaged about 50 rebels at Sitio Islid in Barangay Dalagdag in the city's Calinan district at 9:45 a.m.
Four troops were reported killed while seven others were wounded in the incident, a military report said.

The firefight lasted for 45 minutes and the rebels withdrew after government reinforcements arrived in the area.

The wounded soldiers were brought to the Panacan Station Hospital while those killed were taken to Villa Funeral Homes in Davao City.

Also on Wednesday, three soldiers were killed while another was wounded following a land mine blast believed perpetrated by communist rebels in Cotabato.

A police report said Army troops from the 57th Infantry Battalion were patrolling at Sitio Upper Lumbo and Sitio Agila in Barangay Kabalantian in Arakan when they were attacked by the rebels at 2:25 p.m.  

Pursuit operations have since been launched against the rebels. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/483446/news/regions/7-soldiers-killed-8-others-hurt-in-clashes-with-suspected-npas-in-mindanao