2 Samar soldiers, woman killed, 5 wounded in NPA ambush

TACLOBAN CITY — Two soldiers and a woman who had hitched a ride were killed, while five others were seriously wounded when they were ambushed by about 30 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Basey, Samar yesterday morning.

The ambushers were believed to be members of the Southern Samar Front 2 of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

Col. Reynaldo Lanuzo, commanding officer of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion, told The STAR that the soldiers were en route to this city to procure their food supply when their military vehicle ran into a land mine in Barangay Balante.

After the blast, the guerrillas fired at the government troops.

Killed were Cpl. Harry Cabonce and Pfc. Freddie Dapuya, both belonging to the Army’s 83rd Reconnaissance Company based in Barangay Villa-Aurora, Basey town, and Ninfa Tagana, who had just hitched a ride with the soldiers.

Three of those wounded were identified as Pfc. Conrado Agapian, Pfc. Joel Nungay and Pfc. Reynaldo Mores. The two others were said to be soldiers’ wives.

Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., commanding officer of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, condemned the ambush which he said confirmed that the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is a "godless organization and (does) not value human dignity."

Palparan said the 8th ID, along with the police, will "relentlessly pursue these lawless elements who are terrorizing our people."

Last October, government troops discovered an NPA camp in Barangay Mabini, Basey town, and confiscated 15 firearms.

Just a week ago, some 500 soldiers arrived in Samar to augment the present military force there.

Meanwhile, the NPA’s Menardo Arce Command has claimed responsibility for last Sunday’s raid on a police precinct in Magpet, North Cotabato, saying it was meant to embarrass Gov. Emmanuel Piñol.

The rebels, disguised as soldiers, arrived at the Magpet town proper at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday and managed to enter the police precinct by pretending that they were to turn over a criminal in handcuffs.

Upon entering the police precinct, they divested the policemen of their firearms and then fled, carting away 28 assorted rifles and handguns.

In a statement, Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesman of the Menardo Arce Command which operates in the hinterland borders of North Cotabato and Davao Del Sur, said the attack was in retaliation for Piñol’s hardline position against communist forces in his province.

Piñol fought against the NPA’s collection from politicians of "campaign fees" during the 2004 elections. He also has effected the arrest of more than 30 key NPA members implicated in various criminal cases since he became North Cotabato governor in 1998. — With John Unson