3 troopers killed, 13 hurt in rebel attack

BANAUE, Ifugao, Philippines – Three Army troopers were killed while 13 others were wounded in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in a remote village in Kalinga Monday night.

The rebels reportedly detonated an improvised explosive device when they attacked members of the Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Apatan in the town of Pinukpuk.

Town police chief Senior Inspector Randy Alagao said the troopers were on their way back to their camp when they were ambushed by a group of rebels at past 10 p.m. in Sitio Alanguigan.

Alagao identified the fatalities as Pfc. Bryan Massagan, Sgt. Benjie Palliw and Sgt. Daryl Amiling, all members of the Army’s 51st Division Reconnaissance Company.

Thirteen soldiers – Cpl. Randel Villadolid and Pfcs. Lunes Ambatang, Ryan Guerrero, Jose Gayudan, Diony Patacsil, Reymond Vasquez, Jomar Gammad, Guilbert Ramirez, Nestor Roque Jr., Dante Mauricio, Henry Coloma, Richard Bartolome and Johnson Carig  – were taken to a hospital for treatment of bullet wounds.

Mayor Jimmy Dasayon told The STAR that the firefight occurred near a detachment of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Units.

Dayason said the soldiers were able to retaliate, forcing the rebels to retreat to the mountains.

A group of soldiers was dispatched to pursue the rebels, who were believed to be the same men who attacked government security forces two days ago in Balbalan town.

Brig. Gen. Paul Atal, chief of the Army’s 503rd Infantry Division, said the area where the ambush occurred had been declared peaceful and ready for development by the military.

Kalinga was declared free from insurgents in 2010.

Atal said the soldiers lost no firearms in the incident.

There are about 4,000 communist rebels in the country, based on the latest estimate by the military. – With Artemio Dumlao, Raymund Catindig