The soldiers were supposed to buy medicines for a medical mission when they were attacked by New People’s Army at sitio (sub-village) Daing in Remedios village, Cervantes town, said Major Emmanuel Garcia, commander of the First Civil Relations Group based in Tarlac.
The identities of the soldiers were withheld pending the notification of their families.
The medical mission was supposed to be held on May 6 and 7 in Abra to help at least 150 families.
Pursuit operations are ongoing.
“The death of our soldiers will not stop us from doing what is right. This only strengthens our resolve to further reach out to our people,” Lieutenant General Gregorio Catapang, commander of Northern Luzon Command said.
In nearby Cagayan province, the NPA recently took responsibility for the killing of the mayor of Gonzaga town after a flag-raising ceremony. The NPA reportedly sentenced then Mayor Carlito Pentecostes Jr. for his role to arrest an NPA leader and his support to black sand mining.
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