Rebels ambush 58th IB

CAMP RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City — At least four were killed, one missing and two others wounded in an ambush staged by young warriors of the New People’s Army against soldiers of the 58th IB boarding a 6x6 Army truck yesterday morning along a national highway near the boundary of Marihatag and Cagwait towns in sitio Tagbilibid, Barangay Mararag, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur.

The army truck loaded with members of the 58thIB was on their way to Tandag, Surigao del Sur when an estimated 50 fully armed New People’s Army ambushed them yesterday morning past 7 a.m.

Caraga police regional director Chief Superintendent Antonio Dator Nanas said the soldiers were cruising the national highway at regular speed when the comnunist rebels opened fire at them.

Surigao del Sur provincial director Senior Superintendent Alex Ga immediately dispatched the Provincial Police Mobile Group headed by Police Chief Inspector James Goforth to beef up forces in the area in the manhunt operations against the fleeing rebels.

Ga told The STAR in a long distance interview that the 1405th Provincial Mobile Group helped rescue wounded government troopers and brought them to the nearest hospital possible.

"We can’t talk to the military as of now as they are busy conducting hot pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels who fled as soon as the military and police reinforcements arrived," Ga said.

Ga said he instructed the provincial police crime lab to conduct a SOCO against those casualties and wounded, "so that we can file appropriate charges against the rebels," Ga said.

"It was a surprise attack against the military personnel who were boarding the 6x6 Army trucks," Ga added.

Ga, however, could not give the names as of press time saying the military were so busy allegedly in the operations.

It was not also reported how many communist rebels were killed and wounded but one of military personnel who engaged the rebels in the firefight is now missing and is believed to be kidnapped by the attacking rebels.

Col. Arturo Manalo, commanding officer of the 23rd IB in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur confirmed the attack.

The STAR tried to contact 58th IB commanding Officer Col. Ben Mendoza to no avail. The 58th IB is under control and supervision of the 401st Infantry Brigade headed by Brig. Gen. Luini Mirar based in Tandag, Surigao del Sur. Mirar could not also be reached for comment.