New People’s Army rebels. AFP FILE PHOTO
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — Communist rebels owned up the ambush in Toboso town in Negros Occidental that killed three soldiers and wounded two others on Saturday.
The Roselyn Pelle Command of the New People Army Northern Negros Guerilla Front on Monday claimed responsibility for the ambush of the soldiers belonging to the Alpha Company of the 62nd Infantry Battalion who were patrolling Sitio Carbon, Barangay San Isidro, Toboso.
Killed were Private First Class Teddie Alcallaga, PFC Reggie Taleon, and PFC Ramel Perasol. Wounded were Corporal Rosevil Villacampa and PFC Jethro Niervo.
Roselyn Pelle Command spokesperson Cecil Estrella said that aside from the death and injury of the Army soldiers, the NPA seized three M-16 assault rifles, two pouches and a lot of M-16 rifle ammunition.
Estrella claimed that the ambush was in response to the request of residents to stop the alleged human rights abuses committed by the soldiers.
Estrella warned Army troops that those who committed human rights violations would be priority targets of the NPA.
Col. Francisco Delfin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander accused the NPA of making false accusations to justify their murderous attacks on soldiers.
He said the police and Army were preparing charges against 15 rebels involved in the clash with the Army soldiers in Toboso. SFM/rga