1 soldier killed, 5 hurt in ambush by suspected NPA in N. Samar

CATARMAN, Northern Samar—An Army soldier was killed while five others were wounded in an ambush by suspected communist rebels along the national highway in Catarman town on Tuesday afternoon.

 
The fatality was identified as Corporal Raymundo H. Corales, member of the 63rd Infantry Battalion Philippine Army based in Lope de Vega town.

 
Corales was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician at the Catarman Doctor’s Hospital where he was rushed after the ambush that also wounded his five companions including their team leader, First Lieutenant Mark Vincent Ching.

 
Reports reaching the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office showed that the ambush occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday along the national highway in Sitio Hibabaogan, Barangay Washington in Catarman.

 
Lieutenant Ching along with five other soldiers were heading back to their headquarters in Lope De Vega town on board a KIA military vehicle when they were fired by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) upon reaching Barangay Washington.

 
Bullets hit those on board. They were Corales, Ching, Sergeant Marlon Constantino, Private First Class Eric Lazarra, Private First Class Chris Jonathan Bisnar and Private First Class Pablito Pomarca, who drove the vehicle.

 
Although wounded, Pomarca continued driving with a flat wheel, the police report said.

 
The vehicle managed to reach Sitio Pagsangjan, Barangay Polangi, some 5 kilometers away from the ambush site, where civilians helped bring the wounded soldiers to the hospital.

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