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3 soldiers killed, 4 hurt in NPA ambush in Ifugao


(Updated 1:45 p.m.) CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela — Three Philippine Army soldiers were killed while four others were wounded Saturday during an encounter between government troops and a group of New People's Army guerillas in Ifugao province. Police Senior Superintendent Laurence Mombael, Ifugao police director, said the rebels attacked a platoon of soldiers — led by Second Lieutenant Mark Anthony Bernardino — who were then in combat and clearing operations. But according to Col. Miguel Puyao, the civil military operations officer of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, the troops were on a humanitarian mission when they were attacked at around 10:35 a.m. in Barangay Caoayan in Asipulo town. “They were on the way to the barangay to conduct humanitarian mission. Along the way, they encountered undetermined number of local terrorists. After five minutes of fighting, three of our soldiers died and four were wounded," said Puyao. He said the soldiers “were carrying hammers, saws, nails to render assistance to those whose houses were destroyed" by last year's typhoon Juan. Mombael said the bodies of Corporal Normandy Maravilla, Private Norie Cahena, and Private Wendell Clemente were airlifted and brought to a funeral parlor in Isabela province. Injured were Private First Class John Paul Gorospe, Private Alfredo Liclican, Private Jonel Canabang, and Private Frank Liw-agan, according to Mombael. Mombael, quoting witnesses, said the ambush was swiftly done in a five-minute burst of gunfire. He said the rebels later scampered away to different paths. Puyao said the rebels, led by one Casimiro Binayan, should have spared the soldiers, noting that they were on a humanitarian mission. “These kind of people do not discriminate their targets. Whats important to them is kill people," he said of the rebels. Puyao said soldiers were not able to establish if there were casualties on the rebel side. “They are still scouring the area, our soldiers are on pursuit operation." The encounter took place a few days after the government and the communists observed a one-week ceasefire, from Feb. 15 to 21, while the formal peace negotiations were ongoing in Oslo, Norway. A number of attacks were perpetrated by the rebels last Feb. 22, including the burning of several heavy equipment in Bukidnon. On the same day, government soldiers and NPA rebels clashed in Camarines Sur, resulting in the wounding and subsequent capture of a female NPA rebel. — with Joel Nueva/JE/KBK, GMA News
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