6 soldiers hurt in grenade blast

SURIGAO CITY – Six soldiers were wounded when a grenade exploded near a village hall where they were resting from patrol duties in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte, Wednesday evening.

According to Major Arvin L. Dugho, 30th Infantry Battalion (30thIB) press information officer, the battalion’s troops were on patrol in Barangay Magtangale and took a breather at around 6:25 p.m. when a suspected New People’s Army (NPA) member lobbed a grenade at them.

The wounded soldiers were rushed to a hospital in Surigao City for medical treatment.

“No one was seriously hurt and they are now back in the camp,” Dugho said.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Nemesio M. Gacal, commanding general of the Army’s 402ndInfantry (Stingers) Brigade based in Butuan City, reiterated his previous directive to all battalion and company commanders, including operational control (Opcon) unit commanders, to redouble their security and combat operations to avert any terroristic activities by the NPAs as the CPP anniversary celebration is fastapproaching on December 26.

This was the same order issued by Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) Director Chief Supt. Noli A. Romana to all directors and city and municipal chiefs of police.

Gacal and Romana on Sunday appealed to the public to cooperate with the government security forces by providing timely and accurate information about the presence of the NPA terrorists in their respective communities to prevent any terroristic activities.

“We also need the full cooperation of the civilians to maintain peace and order in this region,” PRO 13 spokesperson Chief Insp. Renel E. Serrano said.