PINUKPUK, Kalinga -- Three soldiers were
killed and 13 others were hurt in an attack by suspected communist rebels in
this town, an area that has been declared “peaceful and ready for further
development” by the military.
Brig. Gen. Paul Atal, chief of the Army’s
503rd brigade, said New People’s Army (NPA) members used landmine to ambush
members of the 50th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Apatan here Monday.
Town police chief Senior Insp. Randy Alagao
said the troopers were on their way back to their camp when they were ambushed
by a group of rebels at past 10 p.m. in Sitio Alanguigan.
Alagao identified the fatalities as Pfc.
Bryan Massagan, Sgt. Benjie Palliw and Sgt. Daryl Amiling, all members of the
Army’s 51st Division Reconnaissance Company.
Thirteen soldiers – Cpl. Randel Villadolid
and Pfcs. Lunes Ambatang, Ryan Guerrero, Jose Gayudan, Diony Patacsil, Reymond
Vasquez, Jomar Gammad, Guilbert Ramirez, Nestor Roque Jr., Dante Mauricio, Henry
Coloma, Richard Bartolome and Johnson Carig – were taken to a
hospital for treatment of bullet wounds.
Mayor Jimmy Dasayon said the firefight
occurred near a detachment of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Units.
Dayason said the soldiers were able to
retaliate, forcing the rebels to retreat to the mountains.
A group of soldiers was dispatched to pursue
the rebels, who were believed to be the same men who attacked government
security forces two days ago in Balbalan town.
Brig. Gen. Paul Atal, chief of the Army’s
503rd Infantry Division, said the area where the ambush occurred had been
declared peaceful and ready for development by the military.
Kalinga was declared free from insurgents in
2010.
Atal said the soldiers lost no firearms in
the incident.
There are about 4,000 communist rebels in the
country, based on the latest estimate by the military.
The suspected insurgents launched the
offensive a few hours after President Aquino delivered his last state of the
nation address.
The Army suffered the setback even if Kalinga
was declared “insurgency-free” in 2010 supposedly due to the weakening of
insurgency in the province.
“They (NPA rebels) committed a gross
violation of human rights. They used landmines. We recovered explosive
devices,” Atal said.
“We did not lose any firearms but we have
three (soldiers) killed in action and 13 others were wounded,” he added.
“Normally, if they (NPA) launch such attacks,
they aim to get the firearms. But the way we assess it, they just want to
inflict casualties. They used landmines and then they withdrew immediately,”
Atal said.
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