3 soldiers wounded in NPA ambush in N. Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The commanding officer of the Army's 57th Infantry Battalion and two of his men were wounded in an ambushed perpetrated by suspected communist rebels in the town of Arakan, North Cotabato, on Sunday afternoon, a member of local police said. SPO1 Rodolfo Cacananta of Arakan Police said the soldiers were rushed to the Arakan Valley District Hospital (AVDH) in the town of Antipas for medical treatment. Police reports said the soldiers were on the way to barracks after doing routine inspection in their area of responsibility when undetermined number of New People's Army (NPA) rebels fired at their vehicle. The incident, according to Cacananta, happened along the Barangay (village) Naje main road usually used by the soldiers and other public utility vehicles. The rebels were reportedly positioned in the upper level of the village road. Police and army assigned in the area are still conducting manhunt operation against the rebels who are believed to be hiding in the mountainous boundaries of the towns of Arakan and Antipas. Earlier reports indicated that the rebels were massing in the mountainous areas of the towns of Arakan, Antipas, Makilala and Magpet. - Williamor Magbanua/KBK, GMANews.TV