4 Soldiers Slain in Agusan del Sur Ambush

MANILA, Philippines - Four Army troopers, including a junior officer, were killed while 3 other soldiers and a young girl were injured in an ambush by communist New People’s Army rebels in Veruela town, Agusan del Sur Wednesday night.

Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, said the soldiers had just come from a dialogue with residents of Masayan village and were aboard 2 military trucks when they were waylaid at La Fortuna village around 6 p.m.

Cabangbang said the soldiers were due to conduct another dialogue with the people of La Fortuna when they were attacked by about 20 NPA rebels belonging to the Guerrilla Front 3 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Cabangbang said the soldiers from the 26th, 23rd and 4th Civil Military Operations Battalion were conducting a dialogue with the communities in preparation to the holding of humanitarian and medical missions in these areas.

“These (dialogues) are in preparation for humanitarian activities. You cannot just go there and hold these humanitarian activities. You have to determine first what the residents need. They (soldiers) are conducting a survey in preparation for the humanitarian activities,” he said.

Cabangbang said the troops clashed with the rebels for at least 30 minutes before the latter withdrew.

He identified the fatalities as 1Lt. Isagani Villasis, S/Sgt. Jose Balaba, Pfc. Alejandro Dao and Pvt. Zen Stephen Cloma, who were declared dead on arrival at the Plaza Memorial Hospital.

Injured were one M/Sgt. Fernandez, S/Sgt. Edesio Escalante and Pfc. Julius Bolotano and 10-year-old Rosegin Tamonan – who was caught in the crossfire. The four are being treated at the same hospital, said Cabangbang.

Source: ABS-CBN News