AFP. 3 January 2002. Communist guerrillas kill two in Philippine ambush.
PAGADIAN -- Communist guerrillas Thursday ambushed government troops patrolling in the southern Philippines, killing a soldier and a government militiaman three days before a Christmas truce was to expire, officials said. Soldiers were responding to reports that New People's Army (NPA) rebels were collecting "illegal taxes" from villagers in the town of Lapuyan in Zamboanga del Sur, when they were attacked, Colonel Jet Velarmino said. The soldiers fought back, triggering a 20-minute gunbattle that left one soldier and one militiaman dead and a third wounded, he said. Velarmino said the rebels were believed to have also suffered casualties, although no bodies were recovered. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews
