Wednesday, April 25, 2012

13 Lay dead in armed clashes with NPA rebels



FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City----Thirteen people lay dead including 11 Army soldiers in two separate clashes with communist rebels today, Wednesday (April 25).

At about 7:15am, eleven soldiers were killed in an ambush staged by at least 40 NPA rebels led by a notorious bandit named Casimiro Binayon in a hinterland village of Kumhang Dinablayan, Tinok town, Ifugao.

The 3-vehicle convoy carrying soldiers of the 86th Infantry Battalion were heading back to its base in Kiangan town when they were waylaid by the rebels who were positioned in high grounds overlooking the narrow circuitous road.

The soldiers traded fires with the rebels but incurred casualties due to the overwhelming fires from the ambushers who rained bullets at the soldiers who were riding the leading vehicle.

A female combo member named Aimee Labug was among those who were slain by the bandits. Three others were wounded including two soldiers and another man who hitched a ride towards town.

Colonel Miguel Puyao, the Spokesperson of the 5th Infantry Division, disclosed that the fatalities include Cpt Seigfred Kafilas, SSg Domingo Torres, Cpl Esmael Lazaro, Pfc Ronel Salud, Pfc Kennedy Ragutero, Pfc Dan Jun Viloria, Pfc Jojo Dawaton, Pfc Crismar David, Pfc Ronald Lorenzo, Pfc Ferdinand Nalliw and Pfc Villamor Sanadan.

Puyao identified those injured as 2nd Lt Nimrad Lavapiez, Pfc Lopez and a certain Jefferson Dela Cruz, a civilian.

The casualties were flown by military choppers to the 5ID headquarters in Gammu town, Isabela. More soldiers were sent to pursue the attackers.

In a separate incident, at least 25 rebels on board a cargo truck, attacked a small encampment of Army soldiers belonging to the 72nd Infantry Battalion in Bacungan village, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur at around 1:45pm.

The soldiers and militiamen who were manning the camp repulsed the attackers with small arms fire, triggering a fierce gun battle which raged for at least an hour.

Incurring casualties, the rebels fled towards the bushes, carrying with them injured comrades , leaving behind some of their firearms and equipment.

A militiaman identified as CAA Leonardo Cainglet Jr was killed while another companion named CAA Dionato Obias was wounded in the firefight.

The soldiers accounted two firearms abandoned by the rebels including an M14 Assault Rifle and a Shotgun.

Yesterday (April 24), an NPA bandit was killed in a clash with the elite Scout Rangers in Bagyang village, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

The soldiers confiscated an AK 47 Assault Rifle from the slain rebel after the brief clash which erupted at around 11:45am. No one was reported hurt among the Scout Rangers who pursued the remnants of the armed groups who escaped to the mountains..

Major Harold Cabunoc, the Army Spokesperson, said that the soldiers will continuously perform their constitutional mandate of protecting the people against the armed threats.


He also said that the Army will give appropriate honors to the soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the country.


He said that the Army will continue to convince the rebels to lay down their arms and abandon the use of armed violence as a way to solve various problems.

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