5 soldiers killed in Abra rebel siege

Lagangilang, Abra , Philippines  – Communist rebels killed at least five soldiers in remote villages in Abra province on Sunday morning, bringing the government security forces’ death toll to at least 10 since last week in the Cordillera.

Rebels ambushed members of the Philippine Army’s 41st Infantry Batallion on foot patrol in a forested area in barangay Mataragan, in rebel-infested Malibcong town at around 4 p.m. Sunday immediately killing Privates First Class Robert Lobhoy, Saldivar Anno, Honey Mateo, Angelo Calderon and Santiago Decena.

Eight more were wounded: Privates First Class Ronel Villanueva; Manny Marcos; Neceson Gemino; Alfredo Ganongan; Abraham Bobis; Billy Ray Noblado; Conrado Torres; and Private Brainard Dumondon.

The government casualties were airlifted to the Abra Provincial Hospital before noon Monday.

Army Lt. Col Ignacio Mad-riaga, commander of the 41st IB said his men were doing “community relations activities” in the different barangays of Malibcong such as building barangay projects, bringing social services and helping in education of the people regarding livelihood projects and literacy advancement when fired upon by the rebels.

Recently, according to Madriaga, villagers in Malibcong were the main beneficiary of an “Inter-agency Outreach Program” that brought massive social and relief services by the local government and government troops.

The attack, according to Army Colonel Essel Soriano, commander of the 503rd Infantry Brigade, “is just a show of (rebels) resistance to development which the government offers to the less developed areas in the province and their neglect and disrespect of the peace initiatives being undertaken by the different security forces and the local government of Abra to improve the image of the province.”

Just a few hours before the bloody attack, two Philippine Army soldiers: Privates First Class Jason Pantaleon and Jayson Grutas were wounded when rebels also attacked soldiers in barangay Kili, Tubo town, also a rebel-infested area in Abra at around 7 a.m. also on Sunday.

Soriano said the soldiers on patrol to confirmed the presence of rebels allegedly “foraging and extorting food and cash” as tipped by villagers.

Immediately after the twin attacks, Air Force helicopters which earlier also backed up ground troops pursuing rebels in Mountain Province last week, spent no time but pursuing the fleeing insurgents.

Five soldiers were also killed rebels in remote Mainit village in Bontoc, Mountain Province’s capital town last week, in yet the first fiercest battle between government troops and rebels in the Cordillera this year.   – With Alexis Romero, Charlie Lagasca