(Update)Trooper killed, undetermined number of NPAs wounded in Bukidnon clash

By Priam F. Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency MANILA, Aug. 6 — A soldier from the 1st Special Forces Battalion was killed while an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents were wounded during a two-hour clash in Valencia City, Bukidnon Friday afternoon. Location map photo courtesy of WikiPilipinas.org The incident took place at 2 p.m. at Sitio Kambangon, Barangay Lilingayon, said 4th Infantry Division spokesperson Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez. Government forces were deployed in the area after several residents forwarded complaints of the ongoing NPA extortion mission in their locality. Martinez said the rebel band immediately fired at the responding soldiers, killing one soldier. Return fire from government units wounded several of the insurgents. The clash ended with the NPAs retreating some two hours later. Several blood trails were discovered by troops, indicating that many of the rebels were wounded in the fighting. Recovered from the encounter scene were [...]