MANILA, Philippines - Suspected communist rebels killed five soldiers and wounded five more during an ambush in Ilocos Sur on Thursday night, the military said Friday.
A platoon of soldiers belonging to the Philippine Army's 81st Infantry Battalion (IB) were with policemen when they were waylaid by at least 15 New People' Army (NPA) rebels while on their way home around 8 p.m. in Barangay Namitpit in Quirino town.
Lt. Col. Jason Bajet, commander of the 81st IB, said that the troops were travelling on military trucks when they were ambushed.
The rebels positioned themselves near houses along the roadside, Bajet added.
"The NPA bandits used the civilians as human shields in that particular encounter. My troops tried their best to avoid civilian casualties by controlling their fires," he said.
He said that the soldiers managed to call for back up but were the reinforcements and civilian ambulances were fired upon by the rebels.
Bajet said the casualties were only retrieved from the area Friday morning with the help of two military choppers.