By Xinhua,
Manila : Two government soldiers were killed when their vehicle tripped a landmine planted by suspected renegade Muslim rebels on Saturday dawn in southern Philippines, a military commander said.
Lt. Col. Edgardo De Leon, commander of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion said three military trucks earlier transported a group of soldiers for a dental, medical and civic actions in Maasin town of Sarangani province. One of the trucks hit a claymore mine. One soldier was killed on the spot while another one died at the hospital.
De Leon said the convoy was negotiating a curve when at least two members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, detonated the bomb. He said the suspects fled towards the sea without firing a gunfire.
Sarangani is part of the Muslim Mindanao where rogue members Muslim rebels frequently clash with government troops. The fire-fight has intensified since August. But De Leon said his battalion has been busy doing civic action programs in the region for the past days and did not incite any conflict with rebels.