Marine hurt in NPA ambush

A Marine was wounded when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed a platoon delivering supplies to a military detachment  in Palawan on Saturday.

This is the third NPA attack on government troops since President Arroyo declared a unilateral suspension of military operations on Dec. 16.

The 21-day holiday truce will end at 12 midnight on Jan. 6.

Lt. Col. Jonas Lumawag, Marine spokesman, said the soldiers from the 29th Marine company were on their way to the outpost in Barangay Sinigiban in Puerto Princesa City when the NPA band waylaid them.

“They were on a logistics run when they were ambushed on board  military trucks,” he said.

Troops from the 69th Marine company and Special Operations Team 9 were sent to hunt down the attackers, Lumawag said.

Hours after Mrs. Arroyo declared a ceasefire on Dec. 16, the NPA killed three Marines who were on their way to the public market to buy provisions.

The three Marines were unarmed when they were waylaid in Barangay Binga in San Vicente town in Palawan, Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan said.

Two days before Christmas, the NPA raided a police station in a remote town in Samar province.

The government will hold on to the three-week truce despite the attack on the police station, Malacañang said.

The NPA has also declared a four day-truce on Dec. 24 and 25, and from today until New Year’s Day. – James Mananghaya