DAVAO CITY – One soldier was killed and three others wounded when communist rebels ambushed their convoy in Compostela Valley’s Mabini town in southern Philippines, officials said Friday.
Officials said village leaders helped evacuate the wounded soldiers – Cpl. Delfin Agod, Pfc. Jimboy Apostol and Pfc Ar-jay Magallanes – after the attack staged by the New People’s Army, which is fighting for a separate state in the country.
Col. Romeo Brawner, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, confirmed the attack and said village leaders rescued the wounded soldiers and brought them to safety.
He said a village chieftain, who was identified only as Anting, of Golden Valley, and council members whose surnames were Quirino and Calamba, of Anitapan village, rushed to the area after receiving reports of the ambush on March 12.
Brawner said troops from the 71st Infantry Battalion led by Colonel Dennis Tanzo were evaluating the conduct of peace and development activities in Anitapan village when rebels attacked them. Tanzo was unhurt from the ambush, but Cpl. Wilson Binalay had been killed from the attack.
General Aurelio Baladad, the division commander, condemned the attack on the soldiers and at the same time praised the village leaders for helping the wounded troops.
“We appreciate the effort of the barangay officials who came to the rescue of the group of Colonel Tanzo. This is a manifestation of the support and appreciation of the community on the peace and development activities of our soldiers. The action of the NPA on the other hand proves that they are indeed anti-development and anti-people,” Baladad said.
Meanwhile in Sarangani province, Baladad said two NPA rebels – Jun Dewil, 18; and Boyin Bugaoc, 25, – surrendered to the 73rd Infantry Battaluon on March 11. The two men are natives of Glan town and both were involved in the January 25 clashes with troops in the province. (Mindanao Examiner)
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