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Thursday, May 17, 2007
7 troopers killed in rebel attack in Abra
MANILA -- Seven government troopers were killed and three others injured in an ambush by New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas in a remote village in Moliney town in Abra on Wednesday morning.
Armed Forces public information officer Bartolome Bacarro said the rebels were actually planning to snatch the ballot boxes that were to be transported by election officials passing through the road in the village of Baoayan.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
Bacarro said government forces were in the area to secure the transportation of the ballots when armed NPA rebels, numbering at least 40, attacked the troops at around 5:45 a.m.
Bacarro said the slain government troopers included a young lieutenant, seven enlisted personnel, and a militiaman. On the other hand, there was no casualty reported on the side of the rebels.
Quoting reports from the field, Bacarro said the troops were dispatched to the village upon receipt of intelligence reports that the rebels were planning to steal the ballot boxes.
Bacarro also said the snatching of the ballot boxes appeared to have the consent of a candidate who supposedly paid the rebels large sums of money in permit-to-win fees. He, however, did not identify the politician.
Army spokesman Ernesto Torres said "the NPAs were conducting a road blockage intended to snatch the ballots in order to favor an unidentified candidate who allegedly paid large sums for his permit-win-fees with the NPAs but the troops managed to prevent them."
Torres said the Army is extending its sympathies to the families of the slain soldiers.
"The noble sacrifice of these gallant men prevented the NPAs from snatching the Comelec election returns and preserved the dignity of the votes of the people of Abra," he said.
Wednesday's casualties brought to eight the total number of military personnel killed while performing election-related duties. On the other hand, the number of injured personnel has also risen to seven. (VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (May 17, 2007 issue)
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