Soldier killed, 6 wounded in NPA ambush in Ilocos Sur

By: Frances Mangosing - 11 years ago

MANILA, Philippines — One soldier was killed and six were wounded when suspected members of the New People’s Army ambushed government troops in Ilocos Sur on Friday.

The incident happened a day after suspected NPA rebels ambushed another town in the same province.

The soldiers involved in road construction work were onboard a KM450 vehicle on its way to Cervantes town when they were waylaid by the NPA, in Malideg village in Quirino town, said Major Emmanuel Garcia, chief of the First Civil Relations Group.

The identities of the fatalities were withheld pending the notification of their families.

“The NPA is known to ambush soldiers involved in medical missions and other humanitarian assistance projects and totally disregarding civilian safety,” Garcia said.

The soldiers involved in the ambush were supposed to build a road that will connect Sitio (sub-village) Tubtuba to Sitio Panananuman in Tubo, Abra, which is only several kilometers away from the ambush site.

These soldiers were also involved in civil military projects.

On Thursday, three soldiers were killed and one was wounded in an ambush by suspected NPA rebels in Cervantes town of the same province.

In nearby Cagayan, 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.

The NPA attacks came despite Northern Luzon Command’s declaration earlier this year that its areas were “ready for development” and described that NPA operating in these areas were only “remnants.”