Army foils NPA attack

SARANGANI, Philippines — Army soldiers foiled an attempt by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas to burn construction equipment in the town of Maasim in this province on Wednesday.

Personnel of the Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion were patrolling in Barangay Bales when they saw a group of men walking toward a backhoe and dump trucks owned by a private construction firm.

The men reportedly opened fire at the approaching soldiers, triggering a firefight that resulted in the wounding of the suspects, identified only as Zaide, Crisanto and Ramon, according to Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

Soldiers recovered from the scene of the encounter a magazine for an assault rifle and other combat paraphernalia left behind by the guerrillas.

The men were reportedly led by a certain Johnny Casamorin, allegedly of the NPAs Far Southern Mindanao Region Command.