3 soldiers dead, 12 wounded in Kalinga ambush

BAGUIO CITY – Three soldiers were killed while 12 others were wounded when they were ambushed by suspected communist rebels in Pinukpuk, Kalinga on Monday night, reports reaching the military and police on Tuesday showed.

Chief Supt. Isagani Nerez, Cordillera police director, said members of the Army’s 51st Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) and 50th Infantry Battalion (IB) were on their way back to their camp in Barangay Kapanikian when their vehicle hit an explosive planted along the road in Barangay Apatan at 11 p.m. The soldiers came from a patrol operation in Barangay Poswoy in Balbalan town.

Nerez said a two-hour firefight with about 50 suspected New People’s Army rebels ensued following the blast.

He said Pfc. Bryan Massagan, Sgt. Benjie Palliw and Sgt. Daryl Amiling were killed in the firefight. The rebels fired at the soldiers from a retaining wall along the road in Sitio Allangigan.

The wounded soldiers were taken to the Pinukpuk District Hospital and Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Tabuk City.

Pursuit operations have been launched against the insurgents.

The strength of the New People’s Army is at about 4,000. With a report from Frances Mangosing