MANILA, Philippines – A soldier was killed on Saturday afternoon following New People’s Army attack of a military detachment in Nasugbu, Batangas.
Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) spokesperson Maj. Gen. Angelo Guzman said the attack occurred at 3:15 p.m. in Barangay Calayo, Nasugbu, Batangas leaving a soldier identified as Staff Sgt. Armando Silvestre dead.
Silvestre, member of the 730th Combat Group of the 710th Special Operations Wing, Philippine Air Forces, suffered a gunshot wound in the chest that caused his immediate death.
The attack happened amid NPA’s declaration of Yuletide cease fire from Dec. 23, 2015 to Jan. 4, 2016.
The government forces’ return of fire wards off the NPAs, causing an undetermined number of casualties to the rebel group.
Guzman said SOLCOM denounced the attack. He said its troops in Batangas are on standby alert for humanitarian assistance and disaster response in connection with the heavy rains brought by earlier Typhoon “Nona."
SOLCOM troops were sent out to track down the perpetrators.