Benguet NPA raid: 3 Army soldiers die

La Trinidad, Benguet — Around 60 communist guerrillas raided a Philippine Army detachment in Mankayan town, a large mining town in Northern Benguet last Friday, killing three soldiers and carting away 23 high-powered firearms.

Benguet police director Senior Superintendent Villamor Bumanglag said that two Philippine Army soldiers and one Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member were killed in the two-hour firefight that ensued when the communist rebels attacked a detachment in Barangay Kabiten, in Mankayan.

Guerrillas carted away nine M14 rifles, eight Garand rifles, five M16 rifles and one M203 grenade launcher, practically wiping out the armament of the government forces, Bumanglag claimed.

The detachment was also torched after the raid.

Another government trooper and one more CAFGU were seriously hurt in the firefight. They are now undergoing treatment at the nearby Lepanto Hospital.

Neither the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) nor the 5th Division of the Philippine Army based in Isabela issued any official statement. NOLCOM spokesman Lt. Col. Preme Monta said they are still awaiting an official report from the 5th Division.

Bumanglag added that responding government forces aboard a military chopper were also fired upon by the raiding communist guerrillas. It was not known though if anybody on board was hit

Bumanglag said the rebels operating in Benguet might have been augmented by their comrades from other provinces in the Cordillera and nearby provinces for the "well-planned attack" on the detachment.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao, ordered police in Benguet and nearby Ilocos Sur province to put up checkpoints to intercept NPA rebels, who were last seen escaping on foot toward Ilocos Sur. — With Jaime Laude, AFP