Soldier, pretending to be dead, survives NPA ambush

An Army soldier was killed while his companion escaped death by pretending to be dead following an ambush by communist rebels in Gubat town in Sorsogon province Sunday afternoon. The two — Pfcs. Jayson Cerdon, 23, and Erwin Baraga, 24 — were riding a motorcycle when attacked by at least four members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sangat village, according to Lt. Col. Santiago Enginco, commander of the Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion. “Jayson was hit three times on his leg causing him to lose control of the motorcycle he was riding. He was pleading for his life but one of the bandits shot him at close range, hitting his forehead," said Enginco. Baraga, who was wounded and bleeding, pretended to be dead when the rebels approached him, and hid in the bushes when the insurgents left after stealing some of his belongings. “He was left as dead by the bandits who were laughing upon confiscating his wallet and cell phone," said Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, of Baraga. A team led by Capt. Edgar Obenieta, 49th IB operations officer, arrived at the scene but didn’t catch the rebels. Enginco said the two were about to report for duty when attacked. - KBK, GMANews.TV