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GAMU, Isabela — At least two soldiers died, and another went missing on Thursday after the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked government troops responding to earthquake-ravaged Abra province.
Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Garcia III, the commander of the 24th infantry battalion, said in a statement that the soldiers were on their way to augment other troops in Abra’s Baay-Licuan town for a disaster response operation.
The military troops were ambushed at Barangay Gacab in Abra’s Malibcong town, according to the Army.
“We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the barbaric act of the Communist Terrorist Group,” Garcia said.
He added: “We assure our people, particularly the families of our soldiers, that we will pursue the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Abra at 10:59 p.m. on Tuesday.
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