2 soldiers dead, 8 hurt in Mindoro encounters

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Two Army soldiers were killed while eight others were wounded in separate encounters with the New People’s Army in the towns of San Jose and Magsaysay in Mindoro Occidental this week, an Army official said.

Maj. Randolf Cabangbang, of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command, identified one of the two slain soldiers as Pfc. Gonzalo Muyco of the 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company of the Philippine Army. 

Eight men of the same Army unit were wounded. They were identified as 2Lt. Julius Daog, Sgt. Julito Cosgata, and Pfcs. Allan Curangcurang, Jerry Imalay, Herbert Lindog, Erwin Desinggano, Erwin Gomez, and Guillermo Reduca.

Cabangbang said the Army personnel were on a combat mission in Sitio Bantulaw, Barangay Paclolo in Magsaysay town last Tuesday when they chanced upon at least 30 rebels, resulting in a 30-minute firefight that led to Muyco’s death. 

The following day, a member of the Charlie Company of the 80th Infantry Battalion was killed in an encounter in Sitio Quintal, Barangay Murtha in San Jose town. – Arnell Ozaeta