2 soldiers killed in Quezon ambush

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Two Army soldiers were killed by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in an ambush in Burdeos, Quezon on Monday afternoon, a military report said.

Lt. Col Generoso Bolina, public information officer of the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), said the victims, S/Sgt. Isidro Cruz and Pfc. Romel Gemale, both detailed with the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, were traveling to Burdeos town on a motorcycle to investigate the rebels’ extortion activities there when they were waylaid by at least seven suspected guerrillas in Amot village.

“The two soldiers were deployed to the barangay to ensure the security of candidates and as part of the military’s overall objective to have honest, orderly and peaceful elections,” Bolina said

He said additional troops from the 1st Infantry Battalion were dispatched for pursuit operations and to augment the security teams in Burdeos town. – Arnell Ozaeta