The New People's Army on Saturday ambushed Philippine troops in the southern Philippine province of Compostela Valley where the communist militants earlier attacked two mining firms it accused of destroying the environment.Rebel spokesman Daniel Ibarra said the latest NPA offensive was a follow-up to an earlier attack on the US-owned St. Augustine Gold and Copper Ltd., and the Malaysia-owned Apex Mining on April 7 and 10. He said an undetermined number of government troops were either killed or injured in the NPA attack that targeted the 9th Infantry Battalion.
Ibarra said the two mining firms "grossly and repeatedly violated regulations of the People's Democratic Government with regards to environmental protection, workers' welfare and people's livelihood."