2 soldiers in landmine blast

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (May 20): 2 soldiers in landmine blast

TWO soldiers were wounded when alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) detonated a bomb at a bridge in Zamboanga del Norte province, the police said Saturday.

Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said the incident happened around 10 a.m. Friday in Palalian village, Kalawit.

Galvez said that prior to the incident, six soldiers aboard a truck have noticed three suspected NPA rebels rigging the Palalian Bridge with an improvised bomb fashioned out as a landmine.

She said the soldiers disembarked from the truck but the NPA rebels detonated the improvised bomb as they were approaching the bridge.

Galvez said a brief firefight ensued as the other suspected NPA rebels positioned at a high ground opened fire that prompted the soldiers to return fire.

The police official said the suspected rebels fled towards to the village of New Salvacion, Labason, Zamboanga Del Norte.

The troops have recovered from the clash site more or less 100 meters wire, three nine-volt batteries, and shrapnel.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1743926/Zamboanga/Local-News/2-soldiers-in-landmine-blast