Communist militants took responsibility for attacking Philippine troops in the southern provinces of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato that killed at least eight infantrymen.Isabel Fermiza, a spokesperson for the New People's Army, said militants bombed an army detachment in Makilala town and ambushed troops in Digos City.
Femiza said, "Eight fascist troops were killed while nine were wounded from the command detonated explosives and actual combat. The NPA confiscated one M14 rifle, several backpacks and medical kits. One Red fighter, Ka Jiboy, was martyred and two other NPA guerrillas were wounded. The offensives were aimed at the 39th Infantry Battalion's forward deployment in Makilala and Tulunan towns in North Cotabato, expanding its former territorial jurisdiction which covered all towns of Davao del Sur. Arrogant and fascist to the core, the 39th Infantry Battalion swaggers as the 10th Infantry Division's biggest battalion, in a desperate move to widen its area of abuses."
The 10th Infantry Division had earlier said that Davao del Sur was free from militant influence. There was no immediate reaction from army officials about Fermiza's allegations.