Soldier killed, another wounded as troops, NPAs clash in Davao del Norte

A soldier was killed while another was wounded following a clash between government troops and suspected members of the New People’s Army in Davao Del Norte.

Members of the 25th Infantry Battalion engaged in an exchange of gunshots with suspected members of the rebel group at Barangay El Salvador in New Corella town on Monday at 5:30 a.m.

They encountered 30 armed men believed to be members of Guerilla Front 33 under Christian Pastor alias Khan after a resident reported them to the army for alleged extortion.

The firefight, which lasted for two hours, led to the death of a soldier and left another one wounded.

The army recovered a M14 rifle and an unexploded improvised explosive device (IED) after the encounter.

Due to the tension, the local government unit advised around 100 residents of villages near the area to leave their homes. —Joviland Rita/NB, GMA News