3 soldiers slain in Compostela Valley clashes

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Three soldiers were killed and two others were injured in two separate encounters with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Compostela Valley on Wednesday.

1st Lt. Ralph Pantonial and Pfc. Eulezys Bantulo were killed when the rebels detonated an improvised bomb in Sitio Sapang Tin-Aw in Barangay Tibagon, Pantukan town  around 1 p.m.

The injured were identified only as Pfc. Sabido and Cpl. Velunta.

A certain Pfc. Napnapan was killed when members of Bravo Company of the 46th Infantry Battalion (IB) clashed with NPA guerrillas in Sitio Biasong in Barangay Napnapan at around 6 p.m.

The rebels also burned two houses along their escape route in Purok 7.

2 rebels killed

Meanwhile, two NPA rebels were killed in an encounter with government troops in Camarines Sur on Wednesday.

Col. Perfecto Penaredondo, commander of the 2nd IB, said Army troopers also overran an NPA camp on the outskirts of Barangay San Isidro in Bato town.

“After the firefight that lasted for almost half an hour, one rebel was found dead and three M16 rifles were recovered. The body of another rebel and an M16 rifle were found during clearing operations,” Penaredondo said.

The troops also defused several improvised explosive devices planted on the perimeter of the NPA camp.

Col. Claudio Yucot, commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade, said soldiers were deployed after residents complained of harassment and extortion from NPA rebels.

Roadside bombing 

In Sulu, seven Marines were wounded in a roadside bombing in Talipao town yesterday morning.

Maj. Felimon Tan, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the Marines were traveling to Barangay Kuhaw in Talipao when they hit an improvised explosive device before 7 a.m.

The victims were brought to a trauma hospital in Jolo, but later airlifted to the Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of Joint Task Group Sulu, said the Abu Sayyaf could be behind the bombing. – Edith Regalado, Jaime Laude, Roel Pareño