Militiaman hurt in North Cotabato clash - officials

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines - A government militiaman was wounded when 30 suspected New Peoples’ Army (NPA) rebels raided their detachment in Temporan village in Magpet town in North Cotabato province early Monday morning, officials said. Inspector Luis Pederio, chief of Magpet police, identified the wounded militiaman as Rogelio Sagucom, 51, of Binay village from the said town. Pederio said a bullet from an M14 rifle hit Sagucom on his left shoulder. Based on the initial police reports, the rebel attackers were led by one Commander Dayo of the NPA Front 53 whose areas of operations include towns of Magpet and Makilala in North Cotabato. At the time of the attack about 5 a.m., two Cafgu teams and two regulars from the Philippine Army were manning the detachment, Pederio said. "But because the Cafgus in the area were able to detect the rebels they immediately took cover and engaged the rebels in a gunfight," Pederio added. For his part, Cpl. Marlon Domingo of the 38th Infantry Battalion, said the firefight lasted for 30 minutes, adding that traces of blood were seen in the escape route taken by the rebels. No landmines were found in the area, said Domingo, the detachment commander . - Malu Cadeliña Manar, GMANews.TV