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VIRAC,
Catanduanes—A soldier and two civilians were killed
while nine others were wounded in an ambush staged by
the New People’s Army (NPA) on Saturday morning at
barangay Batolinao, Baras town.
Police
reports said the soldiers led by 2Lt. Edward Dompol of
the Army 65th Infantry Batallion were onboard a
civilian-owned truck when they were waylaid by some 30
communist guerrillas at about 9 a.m.
The
troops were on their way to this capital town when
ambushed.
Supt.
Gil Tria, Catanduanes deputy police commander, said the
troops, although surprised by the first volley of fire
from the rebels, fought back, leading to a firefight
lasting for almost an hour.
The
rebels, Tria said, fled when reinforcements arrived and
joined in the running gun battle that ended at 11:35
a.m.
The
local police also sent reinforments and have sent troops
to join in hot pursuit against the rebels, said Tria.
Killed
in the ambush were Pfc. Jason Dypiangco and civilians
Edgar Pinili and Rodel Duena. Pinili, the driver of the
truck, was killed in the first volley.
Wounded
were Dompol; Pfcs. Delfin Obispo Jr., Kelvin Dolor,
Victor Rubianes, Philip Anthony and Michael Antonio; and
civilians Diomedes Taguro, Ryan Sepada and Amelito
Sepada.
The
wounded soldiers were airlifted to the Aquinas
University Hospital in Legazpi City. The rest were taken
to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center in this town.
A source
said the soldiers, who were going to San Miguel town,
flagged down the truck and asked if they could be
accommodated.
The 65th
Infantry battalion headquarters is in San Miguel, which
is 30 kilometers from this town.
The
truck was bound for Virac.
At
barangay Batolinao, the rebels fired at the truck at a
distance of only 20 meters, the soldiers said. Tria said
the pursuit operation resulted in the killing of five
rebels. |
