Gov't soldiers survive ambush in Surigao City

Eighteen government security forces survived an ambush staged by suspected New People's Army (NPA) combatants Wednesday afternoon in Surigao City, a belated police report said Thursday. The Caraga Police Regional Information Office said personnel from the 30th Infantry Battalion of the Fourth Infantry Division of the Philippine Army were on two military vehicles on their way to a civic mission in Barangay Mat-i when they were attacked upon reaching Barangay Poctoy. According to the report, the firefight lasted for twenty minutes, after which the suspected rebels retreated to nearby mountainous areas. Citing a military report, the police said the soldiers were unhurt, adding that the attackers may have suffered casualties as traces of blood were found along escape routes. Police investigators from the Surigao del Norte provincial police office and the Surigao City police station said they recovered several empty M16 riffle shells at the clash scene. Pursuit operations are ongoing against the fleeing rebels, the report said. — Ben Serrano, with Bea Cupin/LBG, GMA News