At least 1 killed, 4 wounded in rescue ops for Surigao mayor

At least one soldier was killed while at least four others were wounded in a rescue operation for a town mayor abducted early Saturday in Surigao del Sur. Reports reaching the Philippine Army headquarters showed the casualties were from the 75th Infantry Battalion, which attempted to rescue Lingig Mayor Henry Dano. “As the five wounded soldiers are recuperating in the hospital… one of them was not able to make it due to the seriousness of his injuries," according to reports. The Army did not immediately identify the fatality pending notification of his immediate kin. A separate report on Bombo Radyo said one of the wounded was a member of the Citizens’ Armed Forces Geographical Unit. Bombo Radyo reported that the killed and wounded soldiers had passed a land mine — believed to be planted by the New People’s Army — at Sitio Mahayahay in Pinagbakatan village in Lingig town. Col. Romeo Gan, head of the 401st Brigade, said the incident was “clearly an act of desperation on the part of the NPAs." Pursuit operations are still going on while the provincial government’s crisis management committee continues to work for Dano’s safe release. — JE, GMA News