2 soldiers dead as NPAs attack troops in Abra ravaged by earthquake

By Villamor Visaya Jr. 

BAAY-LICUIAN -- Two soldiers died, and another went missing Thursday after New People’s Army guerillas attacked government troops responding to earthquake-ravaged Abra province.
    Lt. Col. Ricardo Garcia III, commander of the 24th infantry battalion, said in a statement the soldiers were on their way to augment other troops in Abra’s Baay-Licuan town for a disaster response operation.
    The military troops were ambushed at Barangay Gacab in Abra’s Malibcong town, according to the Army.
    “We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the barbaric act of the Communist Terrorist Group,” Garcia said.
    He added: “We assure our people, particularly the families of our soldiers, that we will pursue the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
    A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Abra at 10:59 p.m. on Tuesday.