President Benigno S. Aquino III troops the line upon his arrival in Tuguegarao City Airport Thursday to honor slain soldiers killed in action in Bontoc Mt. Province last July 9. The President also visited soldiers’ relatives in Ilagan, Isabela. (See related banner story). ---Rey S. Baniquet
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Murder charges are being readied against New People’s Army rebels responsible for the July 9 ambush-slay of seven soldiers in Mt. Province.
Col. Loreto Magundayao, chief of the civil-military relations battalion of the Isabela-based Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said they are set to file multiple murder charges against 20 rebels who waylaid the soldiers in Sitio Sugit, Barangay Samoki in this capital town in broad daylight.
The slain soldiers, all from the Army’s 52nd Reconnaissance Company, were on their way to join a medical mission in the town when they were attacked.
They exchanged fire with the suspected members of the NPA's Kilusang Larangay Gerilya who reportedly withdrew from the clash site later with their wounded comrades as evidenced by a blood trail.
Residents said the NPA guerillas were earlier seen washing clothes at a river in Barangay Talubin in the town.
A farmer reportedly passed them by prompting the guerillas to ask him if he was a spy for the military.
The farmer said he was just going to the fields showing them his baon (packed lunch) so they let him go.
After the ambush, the casualties were brought to Camp Melchor de la Cruz, headquarters of the Army’s 5th Infantry (Star) Division, in Gamu, Isabela where new Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin personally bestowed posthumous awards to families of the slain soldiers.
The ambush was the first major setback of the Northern Luzon Command under the Aquino administration.
It came in the wake of Gazmin’s call on the rebels to first lay down their firearms before peace talks with the more than three-decade old insurgency movement could resume.
Gazmin, together with Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David and Army chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Ma-pagu, arrived here early last week to personally honor the six slain soldiers.
A P100,000 cash assistance was also given to each of the families of 1st Lt. Lito Punio; S/Sgt. Melchor Castro, 34; Cpl. Cornelio Balmes, 24; and Privates First Class Camilo Topinio, 30; Windel Gazzingan, 31; Antonio Bunagan, 26; and James Tio-an, 25.
Each of the families will also receive at least P200,000 in additional benefits, including those from the Military Mutual Assistance Fund.
As added benefits, the children of the slain soldiers will also get scholarships or educational assistance from the Armed Forces.
The remains of the slain soldiers were brought to their respective hometowns today after farewell rites by the 5th ID command led by Maj. Gen. Rommel Gomez.
The slain soldiers, all belonging to the Army’s 502nd Reconnaissance Mission, were slated to extend help to a medical mission in Bontoc, Mt. Province on July 10 when they were waylaid by some 20 guerrillas of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangay Gerilya in Sitio Sugit, Barangay Samoki in Bontoc town.
Col. Loreto Magundayao, chief of the 5th ID’s civil-military operations battalion, said the soldiers still managed to fire back, killing a number of their attackers.
Col. Loreto Magundayao, chief of the civil-military relations battalion of the Isabela-based Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said they are set to file multiple murder charges against 20 rebels who waylaid the soldiers in Sitio Sugit, Barangay Samoki in this capital town in broad daylight.
The slain soldiers, all from the Army’s 52nd Reconnaissance Company, were on their way to join a medical mission in the town when they were attacked.
They exchanged fire with the suspected members of the NPA's Kilusang Larangay Gerilya who reportedly withdrew from the clash site later with their wounded comrades as evidenced by a blood trail.
Residents said the NPA guerillas were earlier seen washing clothes at a river in Barangay Talubin in the town.
A farmer reportedly passed them by prompting the guerillas to ask him if he was a spy for the military.
The farmer said he was just going to the fields showing them his baon (packed lunch) so they let him go.
After the ambush, the casualties were brought to Camp Melchor de la Cruz, headquarters of the Army’s 5th Infantry (Star) Division, in Gamu, Isabela where new Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin personally bestowed posthumous awards to families of the slain soldiers.
The ambush was the first major setback of the Northern Luzon Command under the Aquino administration.
It came in the wake of Gazmin’s call on the rebels to first lay down their firearms before peace talks with the more than three-decade old insurgency movement could resume.
Gazmin, together with Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David and Army chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Ma-pagu, arrived here early last week to personally honor the six slain soldiers.
A P100,000 cash assistance was also given to each of the families of 1st Lt. Lito Punio; S/Sgt. Melchor Castro, 34; Cpl. Cornelio Balmes, 24; and Privates First Class Camilo Topinio, 30; Windel Gazzingan, 31; Antonio Bunagan, 26; and James Tio-an, 25.
Each of the families will also receive at least P200,000 in additional benefits, including those from the Military Mutual Assistance Fund.
As added benefits, the children of the slain soldiers will also get scholarships or educational assistance from the Armed Forces.
The remains of the slain soldiers were brought to their respective hometowns today after farewell rites by the 5th ID command led by Maj. Gen. Rommel Gomez.
The slain soldiers, all belonging to the Army’s 502nd Reconnaissance Mission, were slated to extend help to a medical mission in Bontoc, Mt. Province on July 10 when they were waylaid by some 20 guerrillas of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangay Gerilya in Sitio Sugit, Barangay Samoki in Bontoc town.
Col. Loreto Magundayao, chief of the 5th ID’s civil-military operations battalion, said the soldiers still managed to fire back, killing a number of their attackers.
protectors of the public, the government police, the government soldiers, just doing their jobs, have meager salaries unlike the politikos, when they die for their country, their family gets 100 thousand, is that really the equivalent for their lives? but for the roads they government could throw loosely millions, billions of pesos and 10,20,30,40,50 years still the same abortion road. as usual only in the philippines!
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