4 soldiers hurt in Albay clash with Reds

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 20, 2022): 4 soldiers hurt in Albay clash with Reds (By Connie Calipay)

Some four soldiers were wounded in a clash with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in a village here on Tuesday, the military reported Wednesday.

Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, said the firefight occurred at around 1 p.m. in Barangay Bariis.

Belleza, in a text message to the Philippine News Agency, said troops of the 31st Infantry Battalion (31IB) encountered more or less 10 NPA rebels.

"Four soldiers were wounded with shrapnel from an exploded anti-personnel mine. They are currently in stable condition. One was already discharged from the hospital," Belleza said.

He said the communist guerillas fled toward the eastern direction of Barangay Cagbacong after a few minutes of exchanging fire.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, another 10-minute clash occurred as troops pursued the rebels in Barangay Mariawa, also in this city of Albay province.

"No casualties among the government troops while (it was) undetermined on the enemy side," Belleza said.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has also been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172561