Army hunting down NPAs after North Cotabato ambush that left 3 soldiers killed

From the Philippine News Agency (May 7): Army hunting down NPAs after North Cotabato ambush that left 3 soldiers killed
 

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Government forces are now hunting down a band of communist guerillas who ambushed and set off improvised explosive device that left three infantrymen killed and another wounded in North Cotabato, police said Thursday.

Elements of the 57th Infantry Battalion based in Makilala, North Cotabato have launched manhunt early Thursday after the New People's Army (NPA) attack a military vehicle in the village of Kabalantian, Arakan, North Cotabato, a known NPA lair.

Chief Inspector Bernard Tayong, speaking for the North Cotabato police office, said the police provincial public safety battalion has provided back up to elements of the 57th IB tracking the NPA rebels.

Three soldiers were killed when the rebels set off an improvised explosive device at Barangay Kabalantian at pas 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Tayong identified the slain infantry men through their family names as Privates First Class Callano, Quilangit, and Manampan, all belonging to the 5th Infantry Battalion.

Wounded was Corporal Blancia who is now recuperating at private hospital in Kidapawan City.

According to Tayong, another team of soldiers, led by a certain Lt. de Guzman of the 57th IB, were responding to reports about the presence of NPA guerrillas in Barangay Kabalantian at past 4 p.m.

As they entered the village on board a military truck, they were ambushed by unidentified gunmen, triggering a fire fight that lasted for about an hour.

Responding elements from the 57th IB Charlie Company on its way to the clash site was hit by a road side command detonated IED. Three soldiers died on the spot.

Tayong could not say whether or not the ambushers of an earlier Army team suffered fatalities during the fire fight.

“We saw traces of blood. We could not say there were fatalities,” Tayong said, adding that normally the rebels fled carrying their wounded or killed comrades.

The remains of fallen soldiers were retrieved at past 9 p.m. and brought to a funeral homes in Kidapawan City.

Arakan is a known area of operation of the communist guerrillas.

In May 2014, about 100 guerrillas attacked the town police office but policemen, although outnumbered, managed to repulse the attackers and killed three guerrillas.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=759539