(UPDATE) Gov't condemns leftist rebels' ambush in Kalinga

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government condemned yesterday the attack of suspected leftist New People's Army (NPA) on the government troops who were escorting the Commission on Elections personnel in northern province of Kalinga on Thursday.

But despite the ambush, which resulted to the death of two soldiers, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the military would continue to perform its mandate of ensuring peaceful and orderly elections on May 13.

"It's not just condemnable. It's a very atrocious act," she said.

Valte also hailed the government troops who protected the Comelec personnel as well as the election paraphernalia, including the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines.

She recalled that in May 7, 2010, when the first automated nationwide automated polls were held, the leftist rebels also did similar attack in Taguibo village, Mati town in southern Philippine province of Davao Oriental.