THREE government soldiers were wounded after the troops under the army's 8th Infantry Battalion were ambushed by suspected communist rebels on their way to barangay Dumalaguing, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, to deliver basic services and Christmas gift-giving, Thursday dawn.
First Lieutenant Kenneth Cabbigat, 8th IB's acting civil military officer, said the soldiers were heading to the village as advance party when members of the New People’s Army (NPA) waylaid them along Sitio San Isidro, Calabugao, Impasug-ong town.
Cabbigat said the wounded soldiers sustained injuries but are now on stable condition.
"Papunta sana ang ating kasundaluhan sa area isang sasakyan sila para magbigay ng serbisyo pero inambush sila ng mga NPA terrorist. Ayaw ng mga NPA na ipaabot ang serbisyo sa mga liblib na lugar," Cabbigat said.
He said the military and the local government unit of Impasug-ong was set to conduct free dental and medical check-up, health assistance, and gift giving.
Cabbigat said the NPA fighters responsible in the ambush are believed to be members of the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC)1, North Central Mindanao Regional Command (NCMRC) that operates in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.
However, he said the activity was still pushed through.
"Natuloy pa rin ang activity. Ginagawa pa rin lahat ng kasundaluhan at LGU para mapaabot natin ang serbisyo sa mga liblib na lugar," Cabbigat said.
Prior to the ambush, the military said four members of the SRC-1, NCMRC have surrendered to the 8IB in barangay Poblacion, Impasug-ong town, Wednesday.
The four were identified as alias Olayan, 52; alias Jeca, 20; alias Balogbog, 23; and his wife alias Hana, 21.
All of them surrendered their guns such as two caliber 9mm submachine gun, caliber 357 revolver, and an M79 grenade launcher.
"Itong nag-surrender ay same group doon sa nang-ambush sa ating mga sundalo," Cabbigat said.
Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana (8th IB) said through the massive ground operation and deployment of Community Support Program teams in the area, members of the NPA were convinced to surrender and return to the folds of the law.
"As per declaration of our Commander in Chief that there was no holiday truce with reds we will continue our operations," Illana said