NPA rebels kill 4 soldiers in Davao

MANILA, Philippines – Four soldiers were killed in an alleged ambush by suspected New People’s Army rebels in Davao City Sunday afternoon, police said.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Dela Rosa said the incident took place in Sitio Barko-Barko, Purok Cinco in Barangay (village) Mapula, Paquibato District at around 5 p.m.

Dela Rosa said the bodies of three soldiers identified as PFC Ahian Vir Dolero, PFC Marvin Lauronal, and PFC Noel Sigan were recovered at midnight while another, identified as PVT Marcelo Himaya, remains missing.

However, other reports quoted Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, commander of the Army’s 10th Civil-Military Operations Battalion as saying that the bodies of the four soldiers have already been recovered.

10th Infantry Division Spokesperson Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza said the soldiers, massacred by roughly 10 rebels, were members of 60th Infantry Battalion’s Peace and Development Team.

The four were said to be on board three motorcycles, on civilian attire and unarmed when attacked by NPA fighters.

“They were on their way back to their detachment after marketing when the incident happened”, Paniza said, adding that the troops are now on hot pursuit operations to apprehend the perpetrators.

 Originally posted at 11:31 am | Monday, Nov 5, 2012