2 soldiers die in NPA ambush

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao , Philippines  – Two soldiers were killed while four civilians were wounded in an ambush by New People’s Army guerillas in a hinterland area in Paquibato district in Davao City, the military said.

Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, chief of the public affairs division of the 10th Infantry Division, identified the slain soldiers, who were members of lumad community in the area as Pfc. Elansio Alonsagay and Pfc. Kimpio Labawan, who died from gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies.

Garcia said tribesmen Johry Abolorio, Gloria Alarao, Aliberto Libayao and Enecencio Dangkay were wounded in the attack.

The victims were on board motorcycles to attend a traditional tribal forum at Paquibato district when they were ambushed at Sitio Marugasan in Barangay Colosas in Paquibato area, where there are NPAs.

A tribal chieftain named Datu Ruben Labawan, of the Davao Supreme Tribal Council for Peace and Development, who was with the group the NPAs ambushed, survived the attack unscathed.

The tribal datu is a relative of the slain Labawan.

Reports from the 10th ID said the more than 20 rebels that attacked Datu Labawan’s group were members of the NPA Mindanao Regional Operations Command.

The tribal leaders, all members of the DSTCPD, condemned the ambush. They are certain it was Datu Labawan who was the real target of the NPAs.  –John Unson and Edith Regalado (The Philippine Star)