MANILA, Philippines - Two communist rebels believed to be behind the ambush of former Gingoog City Mayor Ruth Guingona last year were killed Monday in an encounter with Army troops.
Lt. Col. Leonard Gille, acting spokesman of the Army’s 4th division, said the clash happened at around 10:45 p.m. at Sitio Mangilit, Barangay Bal-ason in Gingoog City.
The gun battle lasted for about five minutes, but poor visibility prevented security forces from immediately conducting clearing operations.
The soldiers, who are under the 58th Infantry Battalion, were able to secure the area at the break of dawn.
“While scouring the site, the troopers found two unidentified bodies and recovered two M16 Armalite rifles belonging to the dead NPA members,†Gille said.
“Reports received suggest that the dead NPA [embers] were part of the group responsible (for) the ambush last year of Mayor Ruth Guingona,†he added.
Two of Guingona’s aides were killed after NPA guerillas waylaid the former mayor’s convoy on the outskirts of Gingoog on April 20, 2013.
Three persons, including Guingona, were wounded in the attack.
Officials have condemned the attack, saying it violated human rights. The Communist Party of the Philippines has expressed regret over the incident but claimed that the first shots came from Guingona's side.
“Military operations against these NPA bandits will continue with renewed vigor to protect the people of Gingoog and Misamis Oriental,†said Lt. Col. Jose Eriel Niembra, chief of the Army’s 58th battalion.
“While the Army troops continue to hunt the NPA (rebels) who insist on bearing arms, the government welcomes those who will surrender and rejoin mainstream society,†he added.