1 soldier killed, 6 other wounded in Agusan ambush

By: Chris V. Panganiban - 11 years ago

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur—An Army sergeant was killed and four other troopers from the 9th Special Forces Company were wounded in an ambush by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the municipality of Prosperidad at noon Tuesday, police said.

Insp. Filomeno Muñoz Jr., deputy chief of police in Prosperidad, said the soldiers were on a truck to fetch water when they were waylaid by guerrillas on a highway some 800 meters from their patrol base in Los Arcos village.

Killed was T/Sgt. Godofredo Baladad, while the wounded were identified as T/Sgt. Dante Ramos Buemvenida, Pfc William Umayam Hatcheles, and militiamen Antonio Mabras and Richard Bernales.

Azpetia village chair Ricky Antallan immediately reported the ambush to the police.

Muñoz said they immediately sent a team led by SPO1 Rene Cuevas to conduct an investigation and bring the wounded soldiers to the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital in Patin-ay village near the provincial capitol.