1 soldier killed, 4 others hurt in Agusan del Norte clashes

A member of the elite Army Scout Rangers was killed while four others were wounded following separate clashes with suspected communist rebels in the southern Philippine province of Agusan del Norte over the weekend, military and police reports said Monday. The reports said that past 11 a.m. Sunday, troops from the 5th and 6th Scout Ranger Companies engaged an undetermined number of New People's Army rebels in the hinterlands of Bangayan village in Kitcharao town. About 30 minutes later, the same troops clashed with the withdrawing rebels, the same reports said. The government fatality was identified as Private First Class Ninolito Gulane while those wounded were identified as Capt. Mark Steve Cimini, Corporal Mabel Sacayan, Private First Class Jose Sedrome and Private First Class Henry Simba. The military report said the wounded soldiers were brought to a local hospital for treatment. All have been reported to be in stable condition since. The same military report said the government troops were pursuing the insurgents responsible for the attacks on mining sites in Surigao del Norte who fled to Agusan del Norte. Authorities have said that the attacks were due to the mining firms' refusal to give in to the communist rebels' demand of so-called revolutionary taxes. — with Ben Serrano/RSJ, GMA News