‘Vengeance for death of 7 NPA guerillas: AFP forms probe body on killing of 11 soldiers

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The military formed on April 26 a special investigating body to look into the killing of 11 soldiers including an Army captain and a civilian in an ambush by suspected New People's Army guerillas in Tinoc town of this province Wednesday morning.

            The ambush was perceived as vengeance for the death of seven of the NPA guerillas’ comrades in an earlier encounter in nearby Natonin, Mountain Province on April 21.  

            In Manila, Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., military spokesman, said Maj. Gen. Rommel Gomez, commander of the 5th Infantry Division created the probe body following reports that the 11 soldiers were "executed" by the rebels.

            Reports said most of the slain soldiers were only injured after their vehicle tumbled when their driver was hit by a sniper fire.

            The rebels reportedly finished off the defenseless soldiers.

            “If this is true, this is clear a violation of the Geneva Convention barring the execution of wounded or injured soldiers,” Burgos said.

            Burgos said that the probe body would also determine if there were security lapses on the part of the ambushed government troops.

            Aside from the investigation, the main concern of the troops is focused on the pursuit of the perpetrators and ensuring the safety and security in their area of jurisdiction.

            Led by Lt. Col. Eugene Batara, commander of the 86th Infantry Battalion, the government troops were waylaid by by more or less 40 NPA rebels in Barangay Gumhang, Tinoc town in Ifugao province. Batara and his men were on their way back to their headquarters in Kiangan town after attending a command turn-over in Tinoc.

            In the fighting that ensued, Batara’s operations officer, Captain SeigfredKafilas was killed along with 10 others soldiers and a civilian who were reportedly executed by the rebels.

            The remains of the slain soldiers were taken to the headquarters of the 5th Infantry Division in Gamu, Isabela for the necessary honors before they are turned over to their respective families.

            Burgos said elements of the 86th Infantry Battalion are now conducting full-scale operations against the rebels.

            Col. Miguel Puyao, Civil Military Operations officer of the 5th Infantry Division based in Gamu, Isabela, identified the other slain soldiers as Staff Sgt. Torres, Corporal Lazaro, Privates First Class Salud, Lakitero, Veloria, Dawaton, David, Naliw, Lorenzo, and Sanadan, who died in the hospital.

            A civilian rider, Aimee Labug, was also killed while Jefferson dela Cruz was wounded along with Lt. Nabatias and Private First Class Lopez. Labug and Dela Cruz were civilian members of the Army band.

            The ambush led to a fierce gunbattle that dragged on until 12:15 p.m.

            The Philippine Air Force had to deploy a helicopter to the area to provide air cover for the pinned troops.

            The same helicopter later evacuated the wounded soldiers to the hospital. 

            Alst April 21, seven NPA guerrillas, including a woman fighter, were slain in an encounter with government troops in, Natonin, Mountain Province, the military said.

            Natonin is only a few kilometers from Tinoc.

            Men of the 54th Infantry Battalion, were reportedly providing security to a medical mission in Banawel village in Natonin when they chanced upon a group of some 30 armed rebels along the Natonin-Paracelis border around 6 a.m.  

            A five-hour firefight ensued, resulting in the death of the seven rebels, whose identities were still being verified, said Col. Miguel Puyao, spokesman of the Isabela-based 5th Infantry Division.

            “Reports of the rebels’ death were based on information provided by civilians. In fact, they also told us that many more rebels were seriously injured in the encounter,” Puyao said. 

            The firefight also led to the discovery of the insurgents’ bunkers and three outposts in the remote mountainous area and the recovery of several high-powered firearms, including two rifle grenade launchers, reports said.  

            The rebels were reportedly led by a certain ArtusTalastas, who heads the NPA unit operating in eastern Mt. Province.