Soldier dead, 2 wounded in NPA ambush in Leyte

ORMOC CITY, Philippines  – A soldier died while two others were wounded when suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas opened fire at government security forces in a remote village in Albuera, Leyte last Friday afternoon, the military said.

Capt. Dranreb Canto, spokesman of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, identified the fatality as Pfc. Richard Abines and the wounded as Pfcs. Jay Baysa and Frederic Mar.

The three soldiers were part of a 16-man Army team onboard a military truck on their way back to their headquarters from a peace and development activity in Albuera town.

The group had just come from the mountainous area of Sitio Calitngatnan in Barangay San Pedro to respond to reports about the presence of armed men in the area when the ambush happened.

Reports said the military truck was negotiating a difficult portion of the road when at least 10 heavily armed men opened fire at them, killing Abines on the spot.

The attack came after the military declared Leyte a “manageable conflict-affected and development-ready province” a year ago.

Col. Rafael Valencia, the newly installed 802nd IB commander, said the incident would not stop them from further carrying out their peace initiatives in the area. – With Jaime Laude