11 wounded in clash

From Tempo (Jul 9): 11 wounded in clash

Two soldiers and nine New People’s Army rebels were wounded in an encounter in Compostela Valley Tuesday, the military said yesterday. Capt. Alberto Caber, chief, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command public information office, said the encounter occurred at around 4:25 p.m. in Barangay Andap, New Bataan.

Troops from the 66th Infantry Battalion, 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, were conducting security patrol in the area when they clashed with the bandits, Caber said.

 “Civilians reported that at least nine NPA bandits were critically wounded after the firefight but were carried away by their comrades during escape,” said Caber.

Nine high-powered firearms – six M16 rifles, one M4, one AK-47, and one M14 rifle – from the insurgents were recovered after the hour-long encounter.

Caber said that the 66th IB under Lt. Col. Gilbert Roy Ruiz has been receiving reports from civilians about the presence of NPA rebels engaged in extortion activities in the area.

“The people are already fed up with the bandit’s extortion activities. This is another big blow to the CPP/NPA,” Caber, quoting Ruiz, said.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2015/07/09/11-wounded-in-clash/#.VZ3TnZU5KP8