A soldier and a militiaman were killed while another soldier
was hurt after a still undetermined number of New People's Army (NPA) bandits
attacked a government bridge project in Barangay Daguit, Labo, Camarines Norte
Saturday night.
Southern Luzon Command spokesperson Major Angelo Guzman said
the unprovoked assault took place at 11 p.m.
A squad composed of soldiers from the 49th Infantry
Battalion augmented with CAFGU Active Auxiliaries (CAA) from the 22nd Infantry
Battalion CAFGU were securing the Namukanan Bridge Project being constructed by
EUS Construction when the rebels launched the attack.
The clash lasted for an hour and resulted in the death of a
trooper and a militiaman and wounding of another soldier.
Aside from the casualties, the government lost two M-14
carbines and an M-16 automatic rifle while inflicting an undetermined number of
casualties among rebel forces aside from capturing an NPA M-16.
"We foiled the NPAs plan of destroying the project and
the construction equipment; we secured the bridge project that will benefit the
people; but we lost two brave men while serving their country," Southern
Luzon Command Chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya said.
The attack happened after the contractor did not comply with
the extortion demands of the NPAs, the military said.
The fatalities were identified as Private Reymark Camila
Regore of the 49th Infantry Battalion and Anthony M. Aceron of the 22nd
Infantry Battalion CAFGU.
The wounded soldier was identified as Pfc. Jhelor P. Caranzo.
Lt.Col. Medel Aguilar, 49th Infantry Battalion commander,
said that the highway was temporarily closed because of the road blocks and
improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that the NPAs planted, but by 6 a.m.
Sunday, troops were able to clear the highway and defuse some of the IEDs.
Visaya denounced the attack of the NPAs on government
construction of road, bridge and other flagship projects.
These attacks deny communities in far-flung areas to market
their produce and access to development, he said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=822016
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.