2 soldiers killed in Camarines ambush

LEGAZPI CITY – New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed two Army soldiers in an ambush in Ragay, Camarines Sur last Monday.

Lt. Col. Ricardo Gabanzo, deputy head of the civil-military operations of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division based at Camp Elias in Pili town, identified the slain soldiers as Pfcs. Alvin Nerio and John Dave Tanay, who belonged to the Special Operation Team of the 31st Infantry Battalion under Col. Ramon Baldemor.

Gabanzo said the two, together with their fellow soldiers, were returning to their patrol base in Barangay Casay in Lupi town when they were waylaid at around 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Meanwhile, an NPA guerrilla was captured during a firefight between two teams of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion and the 509th Police Provincial Mobile Group and 40 rebels in Barangay Coron-Coron in Matnog, Sorsogon Tuesday afternoon.

Gabanzo said the NPA rebel, Ted Palacio, alias Ka James, was cornered during the 45-minute firefight.

Palacio, 34, is said to be a finance and political officer of the NPA unit operating in Matnog town.

Recovered at the encounter site were an M-16 assault rifle, subversive documents of high intelligence value, an improvised explosive and detonating cord, and four backpacks.