Two soldiers killed in clash with NPA in Kalinga

From GMA News (Jan 24): Two soldiers killed in clash with NPA in Kalinga

The Philippine military revealed that two soldiers were killed and two servicemen were injured when the Army's 5th Infantry Division clashed with Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) gunmen in Kalinga's Pinukpuk town.

According to 50th Infantry Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Martin S Daiz Jr., his soldiers were responding to a tip that NPA gunmen were "conducting extortion activities" in Barangay Baay when the gunbattle broke out Tuesday morning.

While the wounded soldiers were immediately evacuated to hospital, the rest of the soldiers pursued the fleeing gunmen, who were believed to have also suffered casualties.

“We also expressed our deepest sympathy to the family of our soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving the people of Kalinga from the hands of the [NPA]," said 5th Infantry Division commander Brigadier General Perfecto M Rimando Jr. "All the benefits intended for them will be received by their families the soonest possible time.”

Meanwhile, additional soldiers joined the 50th Infantry battalion in the pursuit of the NPA gunmen.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/640841/two-soldiers-killed-in-clash-with-npa-in-kalinga/story/