Army soldier hurt in clash with NPA

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 7): Army soldier hurt in clash with NPA

A soldier of the Army's 102nd Division Recon Company (DRC) was wounded in an encounter with more or less 50 members of the communist New People's Army (NPA) at the vicinity of Sitio Gurem, Barangay Sibulan, Sta Cruz, Davao del Sur on Monday.

But after the encounter, the troops were also able to recover an improvised explosive device (IED) with a detonating cord, one backpack and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Capt. Jerry Lamosao, spokesperson for 10th Infantry Division, said the encounter transpired around 12:12 p.m between the 102nd DRC and the NPA.

Lamosao said the troops responded to information from a concerned citizen that a group of NPA members were consolidating at Sitio Gurem and were planning to conduct atrocities for their upcoming anniversary on March 29.

"With the on-going focus military operation, the troops were alerted for the combat operation," he said.

Lamosao said the troops sighted the presence of the armed NPA some 200 meters from the direction of the government forces. The firefight followed that lasted for almost 45 minutes.

Lamosao said the troops launched a pursuit operation

According to Lamosao, the 10ID will relentlessly pursue the remaining CPP-NPA members to protect the people and secure the communities.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1027650