Capt. Constancio Espina II, spokesperson of the 8th Infantry Division based in Camp Gen. Vicente Lucban, said that a six-man team belonging to the 34th Infantry Battalion in San Jorge, Samar was on their re-supply mission from San Jose De Buan town when they were ambushed by a band of heavily armed men around 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
The armed men, estimated to be 50, believed to be members of the "Dalogdog Platoon" under the command of Amado Adelantar alias Kumander Butil and Naning Laboc alias Kumander Payong who were positioned in the area, suddenly opened fire at the approaching soldiers. The NPA rebels also used anti-tank and anti-personnel landmines that right away turned the six by six truck of the military upside down.
Survivors of the attack said that after the firefight, which lasted for at least 20-minutes, the NPA rebels burned the military vehicle with the bodies of the two killed military men.
One of the two was hacked in the face while the other one, who was just wounded, was believe to have been burned alive with the vehicle.
Wounded army troopers were identified as Corporal Rogelio Prado, Private First Class Melecio Tolipas, driver Rogelio Tilles and Jujie Arnigo. They suffered minor bruises and were confined inside the division’s hospital in Brgy. Maulong, Catbalogan, Samar. — Ricky Bautista