THREE soldiers of the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army were brutally killed in an ambush in Sitio Busay, Barangay Hilaitan, Guihulngan Saturday morning.

Lieutenant Colonel Franco Gacal, commanding officer of the 11th IB based in La Carlota, Negros Occidental, told Sun.Star that a four-man team of unarmed soldiers assigned in a detachment in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan were on their way to the town center when ambushed by at least 10 fully-armed men belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA)-Leonardo Panaligan Command.

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The soldiers were about to withdraw their salary when attacked by the rebels.

Gacal said Private First Classes Joey Bahon, Rino Gonzaga and Leovigildo Dela Torre were killed on the spot. On the other hand, PFC Joefre Galate survived the ambush.

Gacal described the attack as brutal since the unarmed soldiers were shot by the communist rebels in close range, using M16 Armalite rifle.

Galate managed to escape and reported the incident to the Battalion headquarters.

The three dead soldiers succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in their bodies and heads.

Gacal said they found the bodies of the three soldiers bloodied and lying on the road.

NPA rebels took the victims’ wallets.

The bodies of the victims were already transported to their families in Iloilo City, Gacal said.

The military strongly condemned the brutal killing of their unarmed soldiers.

The military and Philippine National Police (PNP) are now conducting investigations to identify the rebels who are responsible for the ambush.

Gathering of evidence and statement of witnesses are still going on, said Gacal.

He said the drivers of the two passenger motorcycles hired by the victims when the ambush happened are still missing.

An Army official is not discounting the possibility that the drivers were also kidnapped by the NPA rebels.

Gacal said the two are still alive and will testify regarding the incident.

He said multiple murder and frustrated murder charges will be filed against the NPA rebels led by a certain Ka Golem of the Leonardo Panaligan Command.