2 soldiers killed in Albay ambush

PILI, Camarines Sur, Philippines — Two unarmed soldiers were waylaid and killed by a group of suspected communist rebels while on their way back to their patrol base in Albay on Saturday afternoon, the Army said.

Private First Class Jaynard Guinoo and Private First Class Louie Jardio, both members of the Philippine Army’s 91st Division Reconnaissance Company, were killed on the spot when fired upon by a group of suspected New People’s Army in Purok 5 (sub-village), Barangay (village) Busac, Ligao City, Albay at around 4 p.m. Saturday, Lieutenant Colonel Perfecto Peñaredondo, commanding officer of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion, said Sunday.

Peñaredondo said the two soldiers were wearing civilian clothing and were riding tandem on a motorcycle heading for their temporary base in the village of Oma-oma in Ligao City when waylaid by suspected NPA members armed with high-powered firearms.

He said the ambush-slay of the two soldiers in Ligao City followed a similar attack in Daraga, Albay, last June 16, wherein two soldiers – Sergeant Servando Bautista and Private First Class Daniel Solinap Jr., both of 9th Civil Military Operations Battalion — were also killed while on their way to coordinate a livelihood program with the local government.

Bautista and Solinap were also wearing civilian clothing, unarmed and riding motorcycles when they were killed, he said.

“Unarmed soldiers not even in uniform are becoming targets of opportunity hence we are taking precautions to avoid similar scene including victimizing civilians through mistaken identity,” Peñaredondo said Sunday.

The bodies of the slain soldiers were brought to a funeral home in Naga City, he said.