Police and military authorities in Caraga region continue manhunt operations against members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) who attacked a logging and mining firm and ambushed responding government troops killing 12 persons.

Caraga police director Chief Supt. Lino Calingasan, confirmed that eight soldiers, one police officer, and three security guards were killed in a recent NPA attack in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.

Calingasan said the NPA belonged to Front Committee 30 that first attacked the Surigao Development Corporation (Sudecor) located at Kilometer 10, Barangay Pakwan, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur at around 11:00 in the morning last Wednesday, November 11.

Calingasan said 11 other persons were wounded during the attack.

Calingasan said, when the NPA attacked Sudecor, the Army belonging to 58th Infantry Battalion, re-enforced, but on their way to Sudecor, they were hit by a landmine killing eight of them.

A policeman and three security guards were also killed during the engagement.

The military also claimed that seven members of the NPA were also killed during that time.

During the attack at Sudecor, the rebels disarmed the security guards, burned several heavy equipment including a chainsaw.

In an emailed statement, Ka Maria Malaya, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front Northeastern Mindanao area, admitted the attack at Sudecor.

Malaya said the attack was conducted to stop Sudecor from destroying the environment in Caraga region.

Malaya said the NPAs burned four bulldozers, two log yards, one timber jack, one crane, two dumptrucks, one welding machine, and confiscated seven chainsaws.

The NPAs also seized two M14 rifles, five garand rifles, and six carbine rifles. Jessie L. Casalda