DAVAO CITY – Communist insurgents killed an army officer and one soldier, including a pro-government militia in an ambush Monday in Compostela Valley province in southern Philippines, officials said.
Officials said the trio – First Lieutenant Ronald Bautista, Private First Class Albert Amor and militiaman Renel Baluca – were travelling on a motorcycle when New People’s Army fighters attacked them in the village called Candinuyan in Mabini town.
The Eastern Mindanao Command strongly condemned the killings which occurred while both sides are observing a cease-fire.
Lieutenant Genera Aurelio Baladad, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, vowed to exert efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of the attack.
He said the soldiers were in civilian clothes and unarmed, and on their way to visit their families when the rebels ambushed them.
“We sympathize with the bereaved families of our slain personnel. It is so sad to note that they were killed while on their way to their families who missed them during Christmas as they were tasked to ensure a peaceful yuletide celebration in Candinuyan. We will exert all efforts to bring to justice those responsible for this merciless and cowardly crime,” Baladad said.
He said the rebels even stripped the dead of their clothes and belongings before escaping in the hinterlands with the victims’ motorcycle.
The military has declared a month-long unilateral truce on December 18 to allow soldiers to be with their family during the yuletide season. The NPA also announced its own truce, but both sides have been accusing each other of violating the cease-fire.
“Our truce was reciprocated by the NPAs with violence. Their piece-meal cease-fire is only a smoke screen of their true intention and a blatant disregard of the communities’ aspiration for a peaceful celebration of the holiday,” Baladad said.
There was no immediate statement from the NPA which has been waging a separatist war for many decades now. (Mindanao Examiner)
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