A soldier was injured in a landmine blast after Philippine Army personnel encountered suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Miagao, Iloilo on Saturday, May 15.
Elements of the 61st Infantry (Hunter) Battalion (61IB) were conducting combat operations in Barangay Alimodias when they were engaged in a firefight by around 30 members of the NPA's Suyak Platoon, Southern Front of Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay under the command of a certain Joven Ceralvo alias Lex, said Col. Joel Benedict Batara, commanding officer of 61IB.
Batara said they were initially informed by the locals about the presence of the armed men in the village so he sent out a team to respond and confirm the report.
Upon confirmation, Batara said the military and the NPA unit traded gunshots which lasted for 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, one soldier suffered from multiple wounds when an anti-personnel mine placed by the NPA within their temporary lair suddenly exploded.
The soldier, whose identity was withheld by the military, was sent to a medical facility in Iloilo for treatment.
"He is now in stable condition," Batara said in a military report.
Batara said more troops were deployed in the area to continue scouring for enemy casualties and war materiel that they may have been left behind by the NPAs.
"Also, possible withdrawal routes are monitored as pursuit operations against fleeing NPA fighters are heightened," he added.