FIVE soldiers were wounded after a series of encounters with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sto. Nino town in Cagayan province on May 3, a military official said.
Northern Luzon Command (NolCom) Commander Lieutenant Colonel Isagani Nato said the firefight between the troops from the 17th Infantry Battalion and at least 30 members of the NPA ensued while the soldiers were conducting security patrol in Sitio Mureg, Barangay Balani, Sto. Nino, Cagayan, around 10:36 a.m. of May 3, Thursday.
“The firefight lasted for about 20 minutes, wherein the troops pursued the terrorist group in the adjacent vicinity, which again resulted in another skirmish for about 10 minutes at 11:40 a.m.,” he said.
Nato said the NPA rebels were under a certain Bladdy.
He said, however, that the communist terrorists also suffered unidentified casualties,, as the troops conducted pursuit operations against them.
Meantime, Nato said the NolCom will continue conducting focused military operations in identified NPA-affected areas in order to protect the people from any threat posed by the group.
“The NolCom will also continue to work with other security forces to ensure that lasting peace and sustainable development will be achieved,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)