TWO soldiers of the 28th Infantry Battalion were wounded after an encounter against members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Davao Oriental Thursday afternoon.
Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division spokesperson Captain Rhyan Batchar, in a statement on Friday, said that soldiers from the Bravo Company of the 28th IB chanced upon a group of 20 NPAs while patrolling along Barangay Calapagan, Lupon around 2 p.m., Thursday.
The firefight between the two opposing groups lasted for 40 minutes after the NPAs vacated the area.
"Private first class Joemarie E. Barnosa and Corporal Valentine D. Ojanola, Jr. were hurt during the encounter at Sitio Mag-uuma," Batchar said in an interview with Sun.Star Davao on Friday.
The rebels left some of their personal belongings including one improvised explosive device, electrical wires, and switching device. Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are conducting regular operations to pacify areas infested with rebels.