[Inquirer] A Maoist militant was killed and two others were injured in separate clashes between Philippine troops and insurgents in Southern Mindanao on Saturday.The injured included a soldier wounded in a clash in Maragusan town, Compostela Valley, and a village chairman waylaid by militants in Toril, Davao City.
Captain Rhyan Batchar said troops from the 28th Infantry Battalion were on patrol when they chanced upon a band of New People's Army militants in New Cebu around noon, triggering a 20-minute gun battle that left a soldier slightly hurt. The militants, thought to be from the NPA Front 27, fled soon after.
In Davao City, a militant was killed by soldiers who responded to an ambush on two village officials in the early afternoon. Generoso Bacalso suffered a gunshot wound in the hand following the attack. Batchar said, "A group of soldiers from the 84th IB who were travelling on the same road engaged the suspected NPA attackers. No soldier was hurt in the incident."
Meanwhile, five NPA suspects have been detained for planting makeshift bombs along a road in Compostela Valley, on Friday afternoon. Glen Canete, Arnel Angeles, Eric Beloy and Jutam and Junel, all surnamed Calig-unan, were chanced upon by soldiers on patrol.
Suspected NPA killed, soldier and village chief hurt in Southern Mindanao clashes