Tuesday, July 15, 2003
Rebels kill 8 soldiers in Bontoc
CAMP ALLEN, Baguio -- Eight soldiers were killed while another was seriously wounded when suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels ambushed them while they were escorting the remains of a dead comrade to Tocucan, Bontoc early Monday morning, the military reported Sunday night.
The slain soldiers belong to the 71st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
A military report identified the slain soldiers as Technical Sgt. Etang, Sgt. Valdez, corporals Mani-ig, Renupa, Baldado, Ruiz, Argoson and Pfc. Log-an.
The lone survivor, identified as Julius Wanason, was immediately rushed to the Bontoc General Hospital for treatment.
The rebels, meanwhile, carted away five M14 rifles, five Garand rifles, and a Carbine.
Sr. Supt. William Aspilan, Mt. Province Provincial Police director, told Sun.Star that the rebels responsible for the ambush were believed to be the same group who overrun a military detachment in Talubin on Sunday.
He added that two soldiers and a civilian were wounded then when some 20 rebels attacked and burned the military detachment.
Chief Supt. Victor Luga, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordilleras, already ordered the Mt. Province PPO to augment the military troopers who are conducting hot pursuit operation against the rebels.
The attacks came after Communist Party of the Philippines spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal vowed a more intense and larger attacks by Red Fighter in response to alleged growing militarization in the countryside.
The 13,500-strong rebels scattered in the entire archipelago have been waging a 34-year Maoist rebellion against the government. HFP
(July 15, 2003 issue)
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