UPDATE: NPA rebels free 6 militias, but kill 2 soldiers in patrol base raid in SouthBy The Manila Timeshome/News/Latest Stories/Today's Breaking News/UPDATE: NPA rebels free 6 militias, but kill 2 soldiers in patrol base raid in SouthZAMBOANGA CITY – Communist insurgents freed six out of over a dozen soldiers and militias they captured in the southern Philippines and at the same time raided a military post where 2 soldiers were killed and another wounded in the restive region. Army Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said rebels released militias Jurian Gaviola, Marson and Hermito Iligan, Bienvinido Lamion, Eddie Tindoy and Sanny Malobay in Agusan del Norte’s Bayugan City late Thursday. He said the rebels released the militias to a third party facilitator, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, and handed them over to the 401st Infantry Brigade also in the town. “The release was brought about by the pressure of the relentless military operations to rescue the kidnapped troops,” he said. He said about 30 rebels attacked the patrol base, sparking a firefight.

Source: Manila Times February 15, 2019 12:56 UTC