ZAMBOANGA CITY, 9 June 2006 — At least six army soldiers were killed and eight injured in fierce fighting with communist guerrillas on the main southern island of Mindanao, a general said yesterday.
Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza, an army commander in the Davao region, said troops attacked a New People’s Army encampment in Compostela Valley province in eastern Mindanao on Thursday when they met heavy resistance.
The fighting lasted for more than four hours, he said, and that soldiers battled some 100 rebels near their camp.
The rebels eventually fled but inflicted “heavy casualties” on attacking troops by detonating land mines around their camp, said Holganza. “It’s a big camp, equipped with tunnels and running trenches. They could have occupied it for a year,” he said on radio. The camp is in the hinterland village of Rizal in the mining town of Monkayo.
Holganza said troops were still pursuing the rebels. He said two rebels were also killed and five injured in the clash.
The army says the guerrillas were active in the gold-rush areas in Compostela Valley, earning from extortion activities and illegal mine operations.
10 Hurt in Bus Blast
In the central part of Mindanao, at least one person was killed and 10 injured when a homemade bomb exploded yesterday in a commuter bus, authorities said.
Police said the bus owned by People’s Transit Corporation and bound for Davao City was parked near the public market of Matalam town, North Cotabato province, when the bomb exploded.
Ten of those wounded were identified as Roy Firma, 28; Therese Balcita, 37; Gilbert Tejero, 21; Raul Saholga, 30; Jessilyn Bernalte; Alver dela Peña, 28; Catherine Aitillado, 27; Jeffery Alcade, 21; Milbert Helbolingo; and Ricardo Dordas.
Witnesses said the bus driver was killed in the explosion.
Inspector Elias Colona, the town’s police chief, said the bomb was made from a live mortar shell attached to a cellular phone.
“The cell phone was the first to explode,” he said. “I ordered all passengers to disembark because I smelled black powder as we were checking the bus. Minutes later a loud explosion followed.”
Colona said the casualties were vendors and bystanders milling near the ill-fated bus.
He added that the injured suffered from shrapnel wounds and were being treated in nearby hospitals and clinics.
Investigators said the attack might have been perpetrated by extortionists, but Colona did not discount the possibility that it might be the handiwork of terrorists.
The explosion occurred days after the United States and Australia warned of an imminent terrorist attack in the southern region of Mindanao.
Last month, three people were killed and more than 30 others injured when a homemade bomb exploded inside a Weena bus terminal in Cotabato City. (With input from agencies)
