12 February 2017•Update: 12 February 2017
By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
Fighting between government troops and communist rebels in different provinces of southern Mindanao since Saturday have left three people dead and six soldiers injured.
The latest skirmishes came after the New People's Army (NPA) spokesman, Ka Oris, announced a heightened armed resistance against the government.
The Eastern Mindanao Command said troops and rebels engaged in a firefight in Santiago, Agusan del Norte Saturday afternoon, killing a soldier and two civilians.
Lt. Col. Rembert Baylosis said five soldiers were also wounded during an encounter with the rebels in Santo Nino, Cagayan.
The 10th Infantry Division spokesman Capt. Rhyan Batchar said a soldier was injured when troops battled NPA rebels in Alabel, Sarangani.
Batchar said three separate firefights also took place in Laak, Compostela Valley.
He said in Davao Oriental, a brief clash also took place when NPA rebels ambushed three military trucks in Caraga but no casualties were reported.
On Sunday, soldiers captured six new NPA recruits and seized five assorted weapons and two improvised bombs in operations in Alabel.
Clashes between troops and rebels continue to rise since President Rodrigo Duterte ended peace talks between the government and communist rebels.
