3 soldiers killed, 6 hurt in MILF ambush

COTABATO CITY — Three soldiers were killed, one of them a young lieutenant, while six others were wounded when Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels ambushed yesterday a military team on its way to a peace dialogue at the border of Barira and Buldon towns in Maguindanao, not far away from Camp Abubakar, the MILF’s former bastion.

Even so, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division here gave assurances it would not embark on a counter-offensive, in keeping with the ceasefire forged by the GRP and MILF panels to ensure the cordiality of the peace talks.

Maj. Julieto Ando, 6th ID’s spokesman, identified the slain soldiers only by their surnames — 1Lt. Lapada, Sgt. Quitus and Pfc. Arandilla. All belonged to the 64th Infantry Battalion. They all died on the spot from multiple gunshot and shrapnel wounds.

The soldiers were on their way to a peace dialogue in Durunguyun District in Barira when the rebels, positioned on both sides of a dirt road in Barangay Nabalawag, Buldon, opened fire with rockets and assault rifles.

Although outnumbered, the companions of Lapada engaged their ambushers in a 30-minute running gunbattle, even killing five of them.

Six more soldiers, Sgt. Villasis, Cpl. Dela Torre, Pfc. Tacadao, Pfcs. Herrera, Marcelo and Escarza, were wounded in the ensuing skirmishes. — John Unson