Soldier killed, 4 more hurt in NPA ambush in Agusan

MANILA, Philippines - One soldier was killed and four other government troops were hurt last Tuesday in an ambush staged by communist insurgents in Agusan del Sur, the second attack since rebel leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were arrested.

Captain Christian Uy, spokesman of the Army’s 4th division, said members of the 9th Special Forces Company were on their way to Barangay San Martin in Prosperidad town on board a military truck when they were waylaid at around 11:45 a.m.

A five-minute firefight then ensued, leaving one soldier dead and four others injured.

The fatality was identified as T/Sgt. Godofredo Baladad, who died while he was being brought to a hospital.

Two enlisted personnel and two militia men were hurt during the clash but their names were not released as of Wednesday. The four were rushed to the Democrito Plaza Memorial Hospital in Barangay Patin-ay for medical treatment.

The incident was the second offensive staged by the New People’s Army (NPA) since the Tiamzon couple was captured by security forces last Saturday.

The first one happened in Lopez, Quezon last Monday, which left one Army officer dead and four other soldiers wounded.

Troops from the 85th Infantry Battalion were on their way to a medical mission when they were fired upon by the rebels.

Officials could not say whether the atrocities are in retaliation for the arrest of Benito Tiamzon, the chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and his wife Wilma, the group’s secretary-general.

The Tiamzons and five other NPA members were nabbed by security forces last Saturday in Barangay Zaragosa, in Aloguinsan, Cebu.

The couple is facing 15 counts of murder were arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by a Leyte regional trial court.