MANILA, Philippines — Seven soldiers were wounded, two of them in critical condition, after suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels detonated an anti-personnel mine in Mapanas, Northern Samar early yesterday.
Maj. Gen. Edgardo de Leon, 8th Infantry Division commander, said the soldiers were conducting community service in Barangay Magsaysay when the landmine went off. There was no reported casualty among civilians.
He said the National Democratic Front, which identifies itself as the representative of the NPA, should be held responsible for the use of banned landmines.
In Isabela, soldiers unearthed the remains of three NPA rebels, who reportedly died from starvation, in a remote area of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Barangay Canadam in Maconacon.
In Zamboanga del Sur, an NPA guerrilla was arrested following a series of encounters in Dumingag town, according to Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas of the 102nd Infantry Brigade. – Victor Martin, Roel Pareño