9 soldiers believed killed in NPA ambush in North Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines – Nine government troops were killed and four were wounded in a landmine attack by suspected New People’s Army in North Cotabato on Monday, the military said.

“The first attack occurred at the boundary of Caridad and Bituan villages in Tulunan town at 9:20 a.m., when troops of the Army’s 38th Infantry Battalion delivering subsistence allowance to auxiliary forces were landmined,” military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said.

This triggered a firefight where seven government troops were killed and one was wounded.

Shortly after, two soldiers were killed and three others were wounded from the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion in a landmine explosion while they were on their way to New Caridad village also in Tulunan town at 11:20a.m.

One of the two soldiers later died in the hospital.

Six of the nine fatalities were soldiers, while the three were militiamen.

“We are still in pursuit operations against the ambushers,” Lt. Nasrullah Sema, speaking for the 57th Infantry Battalion based in Makilala, North Cotabato, said in an interview by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “Our reports are very sketchy at this time.”

“We are sad because the soldiers were carrying huge amount of money as honorarium of our CAFGUs (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit) in the area,” Sema added.

Civilians in the area said the armed men took a huge bag believed to be the money for CAFGUs allowances and several firearms.

The NPA is operating in the boundary of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato. With reports from Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao