DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 5, 2008) – Communist rebels attacked Thursday an army patrol, wounding at least five government militias, in the southern Philippines.
The attack sparked a running gun battle between soldiers and rebels in the remote village of Dongan Pekong in Davao del Sur’s Matanao town, a rebel spokesman said.
“Five militias are wounded in the fighting,” said Rigor San Juan, of the local communist front.
He did not say if there were rebels killed or wounded in the fighting, but the province is a known stronghold of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Military officials did not give any statement about the fighting and army spokesmen were not immediately available to deny or confirm the government casualty.
Last week, NPA rebels boasted their war victories against and vowed to launch more attacks against military and government targets across the country.
Rigoberto Sanchez, a rebel spokesman, said NPA forces had killed 32 soldiers and wounded dozens more in fighting the past two months in Mindanao.
He said the NPA also captured two soldiers and seized at least 35 assorted weapons in various raids in less than two months. He the rebels will continue offensive operations in Mindanao.
The numbers of rebel attacks in Mindanao have significantly increased in recent years despite government offensives in the region where troops are also battling Muslim insurgency and terrorism.
The rebels claimed to have the support of many people, particularly the indigenous tribes in Mindanao, which they say had been victims of human rights violations by government soldiers.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which broke off peace talks with Manila in 2004 after accusing President Gloria Arroyo of reneging on a deal that would lead to the release of all political detainees and respect for human rights, a stop on all extra-judicial killings of activists, among others. (With reports from Romy Bwaga)
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