4 soldiers wounded in clash with NPA in Compostela Valley

From InterAksyon (Apr 16): 4 soldiers wounded in clash with NPA in Compostela Valley

Four soldiers of the 101st Division Reconnaissance Company were wounded in an encounter with an estimated 30 New People's Army fighters in Barangay Teresa, Maco town, Compostela Valley in Monday afternoon, the military said.

Belated reports from Colonel Elmer Quiros, officer-in-charge of the 1001st Infantry Brigade, said the firefight broke out around 4: 30 p.m. and lasted for an hour and 45 minutes, with the rebels supposedly suffering an undetermined number of casualties after artillery fire was brought to bear on the NPA positions to force them to retreat.

Quiros said the NPA band were responsible for torching the equipment of Apex Mining Corporation at Sitio Sawmill, Barangay Masara, Maco town last April 10.

He claimed rebels attacked the firm because of its refusal to give in to extortion demands but the NPA, in an earlier statement, said the raid on Apex was to punish the company for alleged environmental destruction and the oppression of workers, farmers and indigenous people.

The military said the rebel positions had dug trenches and foxholes that could accommodate more than 60 people.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/84927/4-soldiers-wounded-in-clash-with-npa-in-compostela-valley