Rosario, Agusan del Sur – Pursuit operations were launched yesterday by the Philippine Army in Northern Mindanao following the ambush staged by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sitio Latay, Bgy. Marfil this town killing four civilians and wounded seven others, including an eight-year-old girl Sunday afternoon.
Maj. Gen. Oscar T. Lactao, commanding general of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division ordered field unit commanders of the 401st Infantry (Unite N’ Fight) Brigade and Operation Control Units (Opcon) to scour the area of bandits belonging to the guerrilla front Committee 14 of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NMRC) operating in the area of Agusan and Surigao del Sur provinces.
Air Force pilots from the 15th Strike Wing and 205th Helicopter Wing were also placed on strandby for possible air reinforcements.
According to 1Lt. John Alvin F. Rico, commander of “Charlie” Company of the 75th Infantry Battalion the most of the victims had just come from a Baptist church thanksgiving celebration and were on their way home on board an ambulance and a truck when they were ambushed by the rebels upon reaching Road 2, Sitio Latay, Barangay Marfil this town at about 5:30 pm Sunday killing four civilians on the spot.
The victims were identified as Neljoy Cerna, 27, Noni Nabong, Alfredo Cerna, 51 and Vanessa Sabas, 30.
Injured were Liza Casilla, 47 ; Elmer Adonis, 37; Emillio Solidor Jr., 49 and 8-year old Mae Roselyn Adonis.
The names of two militiamen and an army soldier who were injured in the attack were withheld pending notification of their kin.
Lt. Rico said Solidor Jr who is a barangay chairman was invited to grace the thanksgiving celebration of the Wayside Bible Baptist Church at Sitio Latay, Barangay Marfil that ended at about 5pm and left afterwards using the barangay ambulance.
“Six civilians and eight children requested to ride with the Chairman. However, while on their way back home at about two kilometers from the church, they were suddenly ambushed by undetermined number of heavily armed NPA’s allegedly under certain Commander aka Monik or Susay,” claimed Lt. Rico, in a statement sent to the Manila Bulletin.
Reports also showed that a number of militiamen hitched a ride on the truck that followed the ambulance fired back repelling the rebels.
In Maguindanao, two soldiers were wounded when about 30 bandits from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) clashed with patrolling government troops at about 8am yesterday in Bgy. Nabundas, Shariff Saydona Mustapha.
“The 6th Infantry Division (6ID) condemns incidents which might create fear and terror among innocent civilians and is calling on the support of the populace, the LGUs and MILF and MNLF forces to keep watch over the security situation of their respective areas by giving accurate information regarding terror activities and plans of any threat groups,” Capt. Jo Ann Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division (6ID) public affairs officer said.
Source: www.mb.com.ph
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