A SOLDIER was killed and five others were injured in a New People’s Army landmine attack in Catubig town in Northern Samar yesterday morning.
Troops from the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion (IB) were conducting combat operations when the rebels detonated anti-personnel mines (APM) in Barangay Osang at around 9:25 a.m.
20th IB spokeswoman 2Lt. Joyce Ann Bayron said the troops clashed with the undetermined number of communist rebels who later retreated. The injured soldiers were brought to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.
Bayron said the rebels have been trying to recover lost mass base in the barangay, thus the military deployed troops in the area to prevent this from happening.
On July 5, NPA rebels also detonated APMs which are banned under the Ottawa Convention, in Mapanas town, also in Northern Samar, injuring seven soldiers.
On April 3, two policemen were killed and four soldiers and policemen were injured in a similar attack in Las Navas town, also in Northern Samar.
Meanwhile, troops from the Army’s 8th Scout Ranger Company clashed with NPA rebels in Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat on Saturday.
The Army’s 6th Infantry Division said the troops were conducting combat operations when they clashed with the rebels in Barangay Baluan.
The rebels retreated after a five-minute firefight.
Troops recovered in the area an M16, a backpack, magazines, ammunition, bandolier, cellphones, documents, medical paraphernalia, and personal belongings of the rebels.
