Saturday, March 11, 2006
2 soldiers slain in rebel attacks
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Two soldiers were killed while six others, including two Army officials and two policemen, were wounded during an ambush by suspected communist rebels in separate incidents in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental on Thursday.
Colonel Antonio Amodia, chief of the Army's 404th Infantry Brigade, said the soldiers and policemen were patrolling Sitio Darot in Barangay Libudon in Mabini, Compostela Valley when they were attacked by heavily armed men believed to be members of the New People's Army (NPA) at around 12:30 p.m.
The soldiers were from the Army's 28th Infantry Battalion under 2nd Lieutenant Joy Villanueva while the policemen were from the 1107th Provincial Mobile Group under Senior Inspector Jay Venasques.
Private First Class Abdul Sarid S. Ibno and Almalik Ajuji, both assigned at 28th IB based in the province, were killed in the attack.
Wounded were Private First Class Dan Samson and Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit member Jimmy Andoyo, both of the Army's 28th IB, and police officers George Ramos and Bali Jumahali of the Mabini police. The four are now being treated at a hospital.
A firefight lasted for more than an hour before the rebels withdrew.
Heavy clouds in the area at that time prevented air support and retrieval of the bodies took some time.
Mabini police chief Feliciano Tenebro Jr. said at around 6:30 p.m. on the same day, a team of policemen returned to the area for retrieval operation, but upon reaching Upper Cabayuan, they were attacked again by suspected communist rebels who were already positioned in the area.
Ramos and Jumahali were wounded in the attack.
In Davao Oriental, two officials belonging to the Army's 67th IB were also injured after they were attacked by some 30 armed men believed to be NPA rebels at around noon Thursday in Banahaw, Barangay Mahan-ub in Baganga, Davao Oriental.
The victims were identified as Lieutenant Michael Yuzon and a certain Sergeant Bacquial.
Both were aboard a jeep, along with their commander Faustino Bijaren, and were heading to their headquarters for a command conference.
Authorities have launched pursuit operations against those suspected to be behind the attacks. (With Peng Aliño and Sun.Star Davao SuperBalita/Sunnex)
(March 11, 2006 issue)
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