Soldier hurt after clash with suspected NPAs amid Albay relief op — Army

A soldier was hurt during a clash between state troops and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members amid a relief operation for the victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in Pio Duran, Albay, the Philippine Army said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Philippine Army public affairs executive officer Colonel Ronald Sarmiento said 49th Infantry Battalion members were conducting a relief operation when they received a report on the presence of alleged rebels.

“A tip from the community, people from the community reported the presence of armed [communist terrorist groups] in the area. And when they responded to that report, our personnel from the 49th IB were ambushed, even using a personal mine. That's why one of our personnel was wounded,” he said.

The wounded soldier is now being treated at the Camp Elias Angeles treatment facility.

The Philippine Army is now conducting a follow-up operation to capture the perpetrators behind the ambush, according to Sarmiento.

According to the 9th Infantry Division, the rebels allegedly stole relief goods.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla condemned the incident and pointed out that the government is also willing to give relief goods to rebels affected by calamity.

“We [condemn] this move that they made with our troops that were conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” Padilla said during the briefing.

“Ang gusto natin i-point out dito na ang gobyerno natin to give aid goes out to everyone including those who are even against the government. So kasama rin po sila sa aid that we're giving, sa ating mga ayuda na binibigay,” she added.

(What we want to point out here is that our government’s aid goes out to everyone including those who are even against the government. So they are also included in the aid.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News