3 wounded as rebels detonate IED

From the Manila Times (Nov 19): 3 wounded as rebels detonate IED

Communist rebels on Thursday detonated an improvised explosive devise during a clash with government troops that wounded three persons in Bukidnon, officials said.

Army Captain Lorenzo Siobal, a spokesman for the 403rd Infantry Brigade, said two soldiers and a village official were wounded when insurgents detonated the explosives while escaping from pursuing military forces in Brgy. White Kulaman in Kitaotao town.

He said the injured were immediately evacuated to a military hospital in Davao City as soldiers continued pursuing New People’s Army NPA rebels who previously harassed villagers in the area.

“The soldiers were conducting security patrol when they encountered the same NPA group that harassed the residents of barangay few days ago. The exchange of fire lasted for about 10 minutes, and thereafter the terrorists withdrew towards unknown direction,” Siobal said.

Siobal did not release the names of the wounded soldiers, but he identified the injured village official as William Ando. It was not known if there were casualties among the rebels.

“This latest incident once again exposes the blatant disregard of the Geneva Convention by the NPA as the continuously use IEDs against government troops and unarmed civilians who do not support their lost cause,” he said.

http://www.manilatimes.net/3-wounded-as-rebels-detonate-ied/230129/