By Mike Crismundo
CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – Two soldiers were seriously wounded in the military’s encounter Monday with about 30 fully-armed New People’s Army (NPA) fighters in Barangay El Salvador, New Corella, Davao del Norte, according to First Lt. Amadeuz VJ R. Celestial, civil military operations officer of the Army’s 60th Infantry (Mediator) Battallion (60th IB).
Celestial said the NPAs were led by a certain Christian Pastor of the Guerilla Front 33 of the NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC).
The firefight lasted for about two hours before the terrorists withdrew from the area, he said.
Troops seized an M14 rifle and an unexploded improvised explosive device (IED).
Two soldiers were seriously wounded in the fierce gunfight, the Celestial said.
Both soldiers were immediately evacuated for proper disposition. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.