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NEW
People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas ambushed soldiers who
were returning from combat operations in Sorsogon on
Sunday, killing two Army troops.
Lt. Col.
Ernesto Torres, Army spokesman, said that members of the
2nd Infantry Division were returning from
anti-insurgency operations in the province when they
were waylaid by the rebels at about 11 p.m. at sitio
Palapay, barangay Jagusara in Juban town.
Two
civilians who were caught in the crossfire were also
killed.
Torres
said the civilian casualties were onboard a motorcycle
and were tailing the jeep when the ambush took place.
Senior
Supt. Joel Regondola, Sorsogon police commander,
identified the military fatalities as Cpl. Roland
Aurellana and Pfc. Gerry Badaguas, both of the 1st
Infantry Batallion, 2nd Infantry Division based in
barangay Rangas, Juban, Sorsogon.
The
civilian fatalities were identified as Terry and Remar,
both surnamed Dioquino of Magallanes town.
Regondola said the 20-man Army team was heading back to
their headquarters after conducting security operations.
The
passenger jeepney carrying the troops hit a landmine
planted by the rebels on the highway, and the impact of
the bomb also killed the civilian victims who were
onboard a motorcycle tailing the troops’ vehicle, he
said.
Seven
soldiers were also wounded in the attack, which was
considered a retaliation of the NPA for the death of
four of its members who figured in an encounter with
government forces in barangay Salvacion, Sorsogon City,
on Monday last week.
A
15-minute firefight ensued following the blast, and a
military report said several NPA rebels were either
killed or wounded based on traces of blood along their
escape route. (D. Calleja, R. Acosta) |
