Two Soldiers Injured in Isabela clash

Two Army soldiers were injured during an encounter with Maoist rebels in a remote village of San Mariano, Isabela late afternoon yesterday.

They belong to a platoon of soldiers from the Army's 502nd Brigade who were sent to conduct 'Bayanihan' patrol in Disulap village when they chanced upon a band of communist rebels numbering around 30, at around 3:30pm.

Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds in the arms during the 15-minute firefight which ensued.

Colonel Arnulfo Marcos, the Commander of the said unit, identified the wounded soldiers as Corporal Joel Ibus and Pfc Joel Arce. They were immediately airlifted by military choppers to a military hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, Army spokesperson, Major Harold Cabunoc said that the soldiers will observe the implementation of the unilateral ceasefire which was announced by President Benigno Aquino III yesterday. 

Cabunoc also clarified that the ceasefire declaration does not prevent the deployment of soldiers to protect the government's vital installations and help the police in protecting the communities against the rebels.

"The suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) will be observed effective today, Dec 16, up to January 2. While some of the soldiers are allowed to spend their vacation, rest assured that a substantial number of personnel will man their posts to perform their mandates of protecting the communities,"said Cabunoc.

Cabunoc also called on the armed rebels to renounce the use of violence. He said that all of them are free to spend their vacation with their respective family provided that they do not carry their firearms with them.