BANGUED, Abra – Six soldiers were reportedly killed and nine others were wounded when hundreds of heavily armed New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels staged a daring ambush in Barangay Duldulao, Malibcong town, this province, the other weekend, the military’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) bared yesterday.
Elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion managed to fire back towards the direction of the fleeing rebels and a five-minute fierce exchange of fire ensued before the rebels fled the encounter site after sensing the arrival of military reinforcements.
However, the military’s Nolcom refused to release the names of the fatalities and the injured soldiers until their relatives shall have been informed.
The ambush in Malibcong town came three days after three soldiers were killed in another NPA ambush in Pinukpok in nearby Kalinga province late last month.
The NPA’s Agustin Begnalen command reported that after the ambush in Malibcong, an M-16 Armalite rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunitions, and back pack were retrieved by the NPA guerillas after the brief firefight.
The rebels allegedly used a command-detonated claymore mine and safety to withdraw from the encounter site.
Sources close to the NPA said the ambush was in response to the alleged plan by the Nolcom to establish a military detachment in the area where rebels reportedly have control. ( By AARON B. RECUENCO )
