Hunt on for NPAs in ambush- slay of 6 soldiers in Ilocos Sur

By Charlie Lagasca and Raymund Catindig 

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – Government troops are now scouring mountains in far-flung villages of this province after six army soldiers were killed while 15 others were wounded in separate attacks by New People’s Army rebels since May 1.

The latest attack, according to reports, claimed the lives of three Army soldiers who were waylaid by communist rebels, believed to belong to the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Gerilya, while they were patrolling in Barangay Malideg, Quirino town morning of May 4. 

At least 13 soldiers, reportedly all belonging to the 50th Infantry Battalion of the Army’s Isabela-based 5th Infantry Division, were also wounded in attack.

The soldiers’ identities, however, were not immediately made available, by military authorities saying they have yet to inform their families.

Pursuit operations by joint Army and police operatives were ongoing as of press time.

Three other Army soldiers, also from the 50th IB, were slain and two colleagues were wounded in an NPA ambush in adjoining Cervantes town on May 2. 

The Army said its troops were on their way back to their camp from a “bayanihan activity” in Sitio Daing when they were waylaid by guerrillas in the remote mountain area at around 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Reports identified the fatalities in the Cervantes attack as Cpl. Edward Ryan Pingel and Pfcs. Ralph Henry Balungot and Joey Labert Alejandro, and those wounded as Pfcs. Arnel Parungao and Rommel Pilien.

Although outnumbered, the 5th ID said its troops, on board a KM450 vehicle, still managed to fire back, which also led to their recovery of a .45-caliber pistol, four spent M-16 Armalite shells, and fragments from an explosive device.

This, as Armando Silva, head of NPA’s Alfredo Cesar Command in Ilocos Sur said seven Army troopers were killed while at least eight were wounded in the two ambushes. 

He said on May 1, three troops of the 50th IB were killed while two were wounded when they were ambushed in Remedios, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, less than a kilometer away from the battalion headquarters of the said Philippine Army unit. 

He added on May 2, reinforcing troops also of the 50th IB were again ambushed by the NPA in Barangay Malideg, Quirino, Ilocos Sur, about two kilometers from the battalion headquarters. 

Four, Silva said, were killed while at least six were seriously wounded.  In both ambushes, the NPA units were able to withdraw safely without any casualties, he said.

He said the NPA launched the ambushes as the “50th IB is notorious for its heinous crimes committed against the people and the revolutionary movement.  Since it was deployed in Ilocos Sur in 2001 and later redeployed to encompass parts of Abra, Mt. Province and Benguet, numerous civilians and activists became victims of illegal arrest and detention, torture and various forms of harassment and intimidation and sexual abuse of women.  For more than a decade, the 50th IB has continuously wreaked havoc on the lives, properties and livelihood of the people in the said provinces.”

Since 2005 to 2011, Silva said, villages in Tubo, Abra were subjected to yearly arbitrary aerial bombings and strafings.  

Operating troops headed by Lt. Avila allegedly mutilated and beheaded the corpse of NPA guerilla Ka Cholo who died in a battle in 2008.  Recently, two women were allegedly raped by 50th IB troops stationed in barangay Dilong, Tubo.

           

In Cervantes, Silva said nine innocent civilians from sitio Maipit, barangay Comillas Sur were arbirarily accused as NPAs or supporters and illegally arrested in 2009. 

“They were brought to the 5th ID headquarters in Gamu, Isabela and were subjected to continuous  interrogation and mental and psychological torture for weeks.  In 2011, seven civilians were illegally arrested in different barangays after a battle that ensued between the NPA and the 50th IB in Remedios, Cervantes.  They were also accused as NPAs and detained for several months.  Troops of the 50th IB mutilated the corpse of Benny 'KaLikot' Aguilar who died in a second battle in sitioBulaga, barangay Aluling, which they later displayed in a basketball court in the town plaza to terrorize the people.”