Five soldiers and two civilians were hurt after the communist New People’s Army exploded two improvised explosive devices in separate incidents in the Bicol region over the weekend.
The first explosion took place in Camarines Norte Sunday morning, according Southern Luzon Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman.
The first attack took place at 8:30 a.m. and injured four soldiers and two military dependents aboard a KM-450 military truck that was passing along Mahawan-hawan Road.
The wounded soldiers were identified as Cpl. Reynaldo Rivera, Pfc. Ricky Obina, Pfc. Rodelio Urbano Jr. and Pfc. Carlon Duriza. The names of the two civilians were not disclosed.
In the second incident, which took place in Sorsogon, 2Lt. Jonathan Baay of the 31st Infantry Battalion was hit by fragments from a bomb exploded during a five-minute encounter with 10 NPA rebels in Barangays Union and Sangat of Gubat town at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.
Field units are conducting pursuit operations in connection to the two incidents.
On Wednesday, five militiamen and a soldier were killed when their platoon encountered more than 30 NPA rebels in Barangay Hagan, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro.
Killed were Cpl Roland Bernal and militiamen Fulgencio Rolando, Christer Gadon, Garry Galindez and Ernesto Malubay.
Also wounded were Privates First Class Mark Leo Nacion and Argie Capucao and militiamen Jesse Francisco and Meddy Gaban.