Army soldier killed in ambush in Albay village

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — An Army soldier was killed in an ambush by three suspected New People’s Army rebels in Barangay (village) Alobo, Daraga town in Albay, Monday morning, an Army official said.

Major Angelo Guzman, spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division, said Private First Class Leo Salcedo of the 83rd Army Infantry Battalion was onboard a motorcycle when he was attacked by the rebels along the provincial road of Purok 1 in Alobo at around 8:30 a.m.

The rebels, who were armed with high powered assault rifles, were in ambush position while waiting for Salcedo, said Guzman.

He said Salcedo was dead on the spot after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds in the body.

The rebels fled towards Barangay Cotmon in neighboring Camalig town after the attack.

Lieutenant Colonel Audry Pasia, commanding officer of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, sent a patrol to track down the rebels.

Guzman said the attack took place while the country was observing International Humanitarian Law Day on Monday.

He said the Army would file charges with the Commission on Human Rights against the rebels.

At the time of attack, the 83rd IB was securing the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Alobo village, where site development, including construction of road networks, has been underway. This airport is envisioned to serve as an alternate gateway, given the congested traffic in existing international airports in Metro Manila.