NPA ambushes Army troops; 7 soldiers killed

Seven Philippine Army soldiers were killed in an ambush by suspected communist rebels in Mountain Province on Friday, a radio report said. The soldiers were on the way to a meeting to coordinate a medical mission, Col. Eliseo Posadas, Commander of the 501st brigade, told reporters in a text message. The ambush took place at around 11:45 in the afternoon of Friday, the same text message said. A separate dzMM radio report said that the attack occurred in Barangay Samoki in Bontoc town. Authorities initially identified the fatalities as 1st Lt. Lito Polio, Corporal Cornelio Balmes, Private 1st Class Danilo Tobonilo, Wendell Gasingan, James Hiluan, and Staff Sgt. Nestor Castro, and Anthony Banugan. Rebels carted away from the victims four M16 rifles and two M203 grenade launchers, among other pieces of artillery. Slain soldiers were supposed to attend a meeting about the Army's scheduled medical mission in the province on Saturday. - with Mark D. Merueñas, GMANews.TV