MANILA, Philippines -- Five soldiers were killed and two others wounded when a landmine allegedly planted by New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels exploded in Surigao del Sur, a military spokesperson said Wednesday.
A team under Captain Allan G. Espela from the Army Personnel Management Center (APMC) and security personnel from the 36th Infantry Brigade were on their way to the headquarters of the 401st Brigade when the incident happened in Sitio (sub-village) Bantolino, Barangay (village) Ganayon, Lianga town, around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr. said.
The mine was reportedly planted by guerrillas belonging to the NPA’s Sentro De Grabidad Platun 7, FS 19A led by aliases Ado and Dodoy, Brawner said.
The APMC team was in Mindanao on non-combat duty and was going around Army camps to administer the Promotional Examination (PROMEX) to enlisted personnel.
The slain soldiers were identified as Master Sergeant. Rolly S. Banag, Technical Sergeant Juanito B. Tela, Sergeant Ruel S. Ortero, Corporal Amil T. Julmadi, and Private First Class Piong J. Jalain; while the wounded were Staff Sergeant Danilo V. Mamocay and Corporal Haliddin B. Habibun.
The government troops also lost five firearms, ammunition, a laptop computer, cellular phones and personal belongings, Brawner said.
A platoon from 401st Infantry Brigade under by Captain Rodelo C. Jimenia was immediately deployed to reinforce and rescue the ambushed troops, Brawner said.
On Monday, four soldiers, including an officer, were wounded in another landmine explosion in Sitio Macopa, Mahan-ub, Baganga, Davao Oriental.
Wounded in Monday’s incident were 1st Lieutenant Francis John Gabawa, commanding officer of the 1st Platoon, Bravo Company of the Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion, Corporal Ildefonso I. Aleperio, and Privates First Class Franklin G. Sabuero and Syroz M. Adajar.
“The Philippine Army strongly condemns the NPA’s continued and growing use of landmines in their attacks [on] government troops and calls out to the international community to make appropriate action or sanction on this,” Brawner said.
