CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: Four soldiers were killed,
including one communist gunman in a gun battle in the nearby province of
Bukidnon, news from the military said.
Earlier, NPA rebels detonated an improvised
explosive device on a military truck transporting soldiers for San Fernando.
The military added that three more of their soldiers
from the 68th IB were wounded in the attack.
The soldiers were responding to a report that NPA rebels
were threatening to burn a heavy equipment of a road construction company in a Bacnotan,
Makalungay when the explosion happened.
Major Ezra Balagtey, spokesman for EastMinCom, said
the fighting lasted almost an hour.
One NPA was reportedly killed and one M653 Carbine
rifle was recovered along with dozens of backpacks left by the rebels.
Major General Aurelio Baladad, EastMinCom head, directed
military forces to intensify operation against the rebel group.
The military is also ordered to protect vital
government projects and civilian communities against the NPA.
We remain steadfast in our quest to achieve our
mission for secure and progressive communities of the region, Baladad said.
The 4000-strong NPA is engaged in a pro-self-government
war in the country for the past decades now.
