MANILA, Philippines - An Army trooper was killed and six others were injured after their convoy hit a landmine in Lupon, Davao Oriental, before dawn Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, said that members of the 28th Infantry Battalion were on board two vehicles when they hit the landmine in Sitio Mainit, Barangay Calapagan at arond 12:20 a.m.
Paniza identified the fatality as Private First Class Jhassam Diaz.
He said the six wounded members of the Army battalion have been brought to the Tagum Regional Hospital and Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in Mati City.
Paniza said that the soldiers were returning to their headquarters after conducting relief operations for the victims of typhoon "Pablo" when they were hit by the landmine.
He said that the landmine could have been planted by the local unit of the New People's Army.