11 soldiers killed in NPA ambush

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded following an ambush by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a remote village in Oriental Mindoro yesterday morning, a military official said.

Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., Armed Forces spokesman, said a platoon of the Army’s 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) was waylaid by suspected NPA rebels at about 5:30 a.m. Saturday in a mountainous area in Barangay Panaytayan in Mansalay town.

He declined to identify the fatalities pending notification of their families.

Brawner said soldiers led by 2Lt. Ronnie Sipsip were conducting clearing operations through security patrols in preparation for the upcoming campaign period for local government officials on March 26 when the ambush happened.

Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, spokesman for the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said the Army reconnaissance platoon was patrolling Barangay Panaytayan to prevent rebels from extorting money from candidates in exchange for allowing them to campaign in their strongholds.

The exchange of fire lasted for three hours.

“Although at a disadvantage compared to the well-placed terrorist encampment, the 23rd DRC troops fought it out literally to the last bullet,” Brawner said.

The 11 soldiers died on the spot, while seven others sustained injuries and were rushed to a hospital.

Casualties on the rebel side, however, were undetermined.

Pursuit operations are currently being conducted in the area against the suspected NPA members, Brawner said.

Despite the heavy losses, the AFP is determined to stop the NPA from capitalizing on the forthcoming elections to amass funds from politicians through their permit-to-campaign and permit-to-win schemes not only in Mindoro but also in all areas of the country.

“The unfortunate incident this morning will all the more make us pour in more efforts to ensure credible and honest elections. We sympathize with the families of our soldiers who offered the supreme sacrifice in order to deliver to our fellow Filipinos our mandate of protecting their votes,” Brawner said.