1 soldier killed, 6 others hurt in Samar ambush

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – One soldier died while six others were wounded in an ambush staged Wednesday night by 50 alleged members of the New People’s Army in Paranas, Samar.

The fatality was identified as Sergeant Martin Fabi, 46, while the wounded soldiers were Sergeant Danilo Pepito, 50, his son Private First Class Jason Pepito, 26; Beethoven Babon, 42; Tito Ortega, 35; Private First Class Cliff Jason Esquirdo, 23, and one Private First Class Capagalan.

Lieutenant Colonel Nicefero Diaz, information officer of the 8th Infantry Division, said that the soldiers were heading toward their detachment in San Jose de Buan, also in Samar, when they were ambushed by the rebels between the villages of Concepcion and Canligues in the municipality of Paranas at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The soldiers, who were in a convoy of vehicles, were surprised by the attack and scampered away in different directions for safety.

A 20-minute gunfight ensued between soldiers and suspected NPA rebels, said Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Tampus, spokesman of the Army’s Central Command.

One of the vehicles, a six-by-six truck, was hit by a land mine planted by the rebels, Diaz said.

The driver of the vehicle, the elder Pepito, was able to get out from the vehicle together with his companions except Fabi, who was allegedly dragged by a rebel who shot at close range.

Fabi’s body was taken to the military hospital of the 8th ID headquarters in Catbalogan City while the wounded soldiers were taken to the Saint Paul’s Hospital in Tacloban City. Kate Evangelista, INQUIRER.net