3 wounded in NPA raid in Compostela Valley

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 1, 2010) – Communist rebels attacked a military patrol base wounding 3 people in the southern Philippines, an army spokesman said Thursday.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, of the 10th Infantry Division, said some 50 rebels attacked the base late Wednesday in Compostela Valley’s Maragusan town. He said two soldiers and a civilian were wounded in the raid.

Troops fought the rebels – members of the New People’s Army - for more than half an hour until the attackers retreated on two trucks they earlier hijacked in the town, Garcia said. “Government soldiers recovered one of the trucks and pursuit operation is going on.”

Major General Carlos Holganza, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, said the rebels disregarded the safety of civilians when they attacked the patrol base. He said many civilians were near the base when rebels attacked.

The rebels are fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)