2 soldiers killed in NPA encounter

Two soldiers were killed while another was wounded in an afternoon fighting that broke out between government security forces and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Antique on Friday.

Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Army spokesman, also reported that  government lost two M16 assault rifles to the insurgents who waylaid the troops at about 5 p.m. at Barangay Bulanbulan, San Remigio town. 

Prior to the gunbattle, the soldiers have just provided security assistance to San Remigio mayor Elizabeth Coloso who inaugurated an elementary school in nearby Barangay Algera, De Asis said.

Coloso, an anti-NPA advocate, called in a squad of Army troops to secure last Friday’s school inauguration rites following reports that the insurgents were plotting to assassinate her.

Also, there were persistent reports that the insurgents were  plotting to attack the San Remigio townhall as well as the municipal police station of the said town.

On foot, the soldiers were already on their way back to their company headquarters when one of them stepped on a landmine planted by the insurgents along their route.

“A squad of the 31st Division Recom Company, 3rd Infantry Division, while on their way back to their company post was landmined by about 20 NPAs,” Torres said.

Outnumbered, the troops fought back forcing the rebels to withdraw but not after killing two soldiers.

“The NPA use of landmine is deplorable. This is another scheme of their open defiance to the international ban on the use of landmine,” Torres said.

Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise, military commander in Western Visayas ordered massive operations in the mountainous municipality and nearby areas against the insurgents.

“Ongoing Army operations are being conducted to capture the NPA terrorists responsible for the dastardly act,” Lt. Col. Erwin de Asis, 3rdID spokesperson said.