Army officer dead as rebs ambush medical mission

LEGAZPI CITY ,Philippines  – An Army lieutenant was killed while a fellow officer was wounded when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed a medical mission Saturday morning in Daraga, Albay.

Col. Arthur Ang, commanding officer of the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade, said a 10-man team of the 2nd Infantry Battalion led by Maj. Narsan Obuyes, together with Dr. Ramon Martin Velasco and other members of the medical team, was on board an M-35 truck when they were fired upon by at least 15 NPA guerrillas at around 9:20 a.m. between barangays San Vicente Grande and Nabasan in Daraga town.

“Our soldiers immediately jumped out of the vehicles and engaged the rebels in a 15-minute exchange of gunfire,” Ang said.

An Army lieutenant was killed while Pfc. Genesis Broso was wounded in the attack. The name of the slain officer was withheld pending notification of his family.

Velasco and the other members of the medical team were unhurt.

Ang said the barangay council of Nabasan requested the medical mission organized by the Army so villagers who could not afford to go to government hospitals can avail themselves of free medical consultation, treatment and medicine.

Maj. Gen. Joshue Gaverza Jr., commanding general of the 9th Infantry Division, condemned the attack, saying, “NPA rebels are not choosing their targets anymore just to make a score.”

“This is a humanitarian mission in which their families or relatives can even benefit,” said Gaverza, adding that NPA guerrillas in Masbate also attacked a medical mission two months ago.   – With Jaime Laude