Municipality Of Baganga, Philippines—At least six soldiers were killed in a New People’s Army attack in a hinterland village in Baganga, Davao Oriental on Saturday morning, a communist rebel leader said.The attack came as the NPA was about to celebrate its 41st anniversary on Monday.

Mr. Dyomabuk Kadyawan, spokesperson of the Antonio Nerio Antao Command of the NPA’s Front 15, said the soldiers who belong to the 67th Infantry Battalion were resting in Sitio (sub-village) Pagbabayan, Barangay (village) Mahan-ob at past 7 a.m. when attacked was launched.

Kadyawan said his men monitored the entry of the soldiers in the village at 2 a.m., prompting them to conduct the offensive.

“The guerilla action is a slap on the enemy's face who just recently declared that Baganga in Davao Oriental is said to be a NPA-free Municipality,” the spokesperson said on his most recent conference.

However, Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said not six but only one soldier died in the attack. He also said that another soldier was wounded. The identities of the soldiers were still unknown until tis very moment of time.