2 soldiers killed, 7 others hurt in Sorsogon clash

LEGAZPI CITY — Two Army soldiers were killed while seven others were wounded in a clash between military troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels early Monday in Gubat town in Sorsogon, the military said.

The Army troopers were on combat patrol at around 5 a.m. when they engaged an undetermined number of NPA rebels in a 30-minute firefight in the vicinity of Barangay (village) Casili in the outskirt of Gubat town, said Maj. Virgilio Perez, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command (Solcom). Reports reaching Solcom said that aside from the gunfight, the NPA rebels also used and planted landmines against the government troopers.

Perez, in a text message, said the identities of the slain and wounded soldiers are withheld pending notification of their families.

The attack coincided with the interment at the Casiguran Public Cemetery of ranking rebel leader Andres “Ka Magno” Hubilla and NPA member Miguel “Ka Billy” Himor. The military claimed Hubilla and Himor died in an encounter with soldiers in a remote village in Casiguran town, also in Sorsogon, on July 28 but Karapatan-Bicol fact-finding mission said the two were massacred with civilians Arnel Borres and Dick Laura.

Hundreds of supporters wearing red shirts joined the burial rites in a call for justice for the slain rebels. JE