NPA rebels say soldiers killed in ambush were armed

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Contrary to the military’s claim, the four soldiers killed in an ambush by communist rebels in the Paquibato district here on Sunday were armed, a rebel leader said.

Leoncio Pitao, also known as “Ka Parago,” said in a statement to news offices on Tuesday that the New People’s Army unit in the ambush recovered three firearms from three of the four soldiers.

Pitao, leader of the NPA’s Merardo Arce Command, said the recovery of firearms – three .45-caliber pistols — from the slain soldiers belied the military’s claim they were “unarmed and off-duty.”

The military’s Eastern Mindanao Command said the four soldiers—Privates 1st Class Ahian Vir Dolero, Marvin Lauronal, Noel Sigan; and Pvt.  Marcelo Himaya —were returning to their base camp on a motorcycle from marketing chores when they were waylaid by heavily armed NPA rebels.

Pitao said that in fact, the soldiers “fought it out against members of the 1st Pulang Bagani company.”

“The fatalities were armed combatants of the 69th IB Special Operations Team, not defenseless functionaries or civilians as falsely depicted by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” he said.

Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division, said the NPA was trying to justify its “barbaric” attack on the defenseless soldiers.

Asked to comment on the NPA’s claim about the firearms recovered, Paniza said, “They have to prove that and they should present the firearms.”

“How could they have brought firearms when, in fact, they were in civilian attire?” he asked.

Paniza said it was not the first time that the NPA  attacked unarmed soldiers in the Eastern Mindanao area although he did not cite examples of previous incidents.