Hanoi (VNA) - Five people were killed and 15 others wounded in a seriesof attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) in southern Philippines on February16, said the Philippine army on February 17.
ColonelRhyan Batchar, spokesperson of the army's 10th Infantry Division, said the NPAset off an improvised explosive device targeting a military convoy in Calinandistrict, 15km southeast away from Davao city. Two soldiers were killed in theattack. In the following clash, 15 soldiers were wounded and two rebels died.
Aninsurgent of the NPA was also killed in another attack in Binaton village ofPaquibato district.
Batcharadded that government soldiers are chasing the rebels.
Theclashes on February 16 were the latest in the escalation of violence betweenthe Philippine government troops and the NPA, which has been waging a rebellionsince 1969. Fighting between government troops and the NPA has killed 30,000 peoplein the past five decades. -VNA