The Philippine military has denied a New People's Army (NPA) claim that nine soldiers died and two were injured in an armed clash in Quezon town, Bukidnon Thursday afternoon. Army spokesman Captain Ernest Carolina confirmed that only three soldiers were wounded and one had been killed.A statement from the Maoist rebels emailed to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Friday said the nine soldiers who died belonged to the 68th Infantry Battalion (68IB). NPA spokesman Ka Allan Juanito said, "The platoon of 68IB was almost wiped out. Residents in the area saw the government soldiers loading their casualties onto a military truck that night."
Thursday afternoon 30 guerrilla fighters ambushed 26 soldiers of the 68IB in Barangay Cawayan. The 68IB troops had just returned from combat operations in the neighboring municipality of San Fernando. The firefight lasted for almost 40 minutes.
The Philippine military continues to conduct massive operations following rebel attacks in the provinces of Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sarangani, Misamis Oriental and other parts of Mindanao.