5 soldiers killed in Abra rebel siege
By Artemio Dumlao
The Philippine Star – www.philstar.com
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Lagangilang, Abra , Philippines – Communist rebels killed at least five soldiers in remote villages in Abra province on Sunday morning, bringing the government security forces’ death toll to at least 10 since last week in the Cordillera.
Rebels ambushed members of the Philippine Army’s 41st Infantry Batallion on foot patrol in a forested area in barangay Mataragan, in rebel-infested Malibcong town at around 4 p.m. Sunday immediately killing Privates First Class Robert Lobhoy, Saldivar Anno, Honey Mateo, Angelo Calderon and Santiago Decena.
Eight more were wounded: Privates First Class Ronel Villanueva; Manny Marcos; Neceson Gemino; Alfredo Ganongan; Abraham Bobis; Billy Ray Noblado; Conrado Torres; and Private Brainard Dumondon.
The government casualties were airlifted to the Abra Provincial Hospital before noon Monday.
Army Lt. Col Ignacio Mad-riaga, commander of the 41st IB said his men were doing “community relations activities” in the different barangays of Malibcong such as building barangay projects, bringing social services and helping in education of the people regarding livelihood projects and literacy advancement when fired upon by the rebels.
Recently, according to Madriaga, villagers in Malibcong were the main beneficiary of an “Inter-agency Outreach Program” that brought massive social and relief services by the local government and government troops.
The attack, according to Army Colonel Essel Soriano, commander of the 503rd Infantry Brigade, “is just a show of (rebels) resistance to development which the government offers to the less developed areas in the province and their neglect and disrespect of the peace initiatives being undertaken by the different security forces and the local government of Abra to improve the image of the province.”
Just a few hours before the bloody attack, two Philippine Army soldiers: Privates First Class Jason Pantaleon and Jayson Grutas were wounded when rebels also attacked soldiers in barangay Kili, Tubo town, also a rebel-infested area in Abra at around 7 a.m. also on Sunday.
Soriano said the soldiers on patrol to confirmed the presence of rebels allegedly “foraging and extorting food and cash” as tipped by villagers.
Immediately after the twin attacks, Air Force helicopters which earlier also backed up ground troops pursuing rebels in Mountain Province last week, spent no time but pursuing the fleeing insurgents.
Five soldiers were also killed rebels in remote Mainit village in Bontoc, Mountain Province’s capital town last week, in yet the first fiercest battle between government troops and rebels in the Cordillera this year. – With Alexis Romero, Charlie Lagasca
Militiaman killed by NPA rebels in Catanduanes
By Fernan Gianan
www.inquirer.net (breaking news)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
VIRAC, Catanduanes – Suspected members of the New People’s Army shot to death a militiaman in his own residence Monday in Pandan town, some 95 kilometers from here, an Army official said Tuesday morning.
The victim was identified as Emer Eusebio, a member of the Civilian Active Auxiliary of the 22nd Infantry Batallion, 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, assigned at its detachment in Barangay Purot in the same town.
Major Harold Cabunoc, the 9th ID spokesman, said Eusebio was playing with his children inside his house in Barangay (village) Sta. Cruz at 4:30 p.m. when seven heavily armed communist guerrillas barged in and dragged him outside to the back portion of the house.
He said a guerrilla leader shot Eusebio several times while the other rebels watched and shouted “Long Live the New People’s Army!”
The group then withdrew towards a mountainous area of Barangay Lumabao.
An hour later, Eusebio was taken to the Pandan district hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
Cabunoc said Eusebio was the second Army personnel to be killed by the communist guerrillas this year.
Last January 14, Private First Class Michael Sarza was riding his motorcycle when he was ambushed by the rebels in Camalig, Albay while coordinating a community training activity in Barangay Taplacon.
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