Soldier, cop slain in NPA attacks

MANILA, Philippines — A soldier and a police officer in Ilocos Sur and Sorsogon, respectively, were killed while two others were wounded after New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked government forces on Sunday.

Soldiers of the 81st Infantry Battalion were conducting “Bayanihan” activities at the Patiacan Elementary School in a mountain village in Quirino, Ilocos Sur when members of the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya Montes opened fire at around 2:45 p.m.

Pfc. Peter John Villanueva, 26, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Primary Health Care Facility in Poblacion, Quirino.

Pfc. Esmael Michael Mama was wounded and confined at the Ilocos Training Regional Medical Center.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines condemned the  attack, which it described as “very evil,” noting that the soldiers were with teachers and students when they were shot.

“Rest assured, the Army will not falter and continue with its mission to provide the basic needs and protect  Barangay Patiacan against NPA atrocities,” Col. Henry Robinson Jr., 702nd Infantry Brigade commander, said.

In Sorsogon, the police was placed on alert yesterday after Police Officer 1 Dennis Garbida was killed and another policeman was wounded in attacks on two police stations.

Chief Inspector Jim Jeremias, Gubat police chief, said the rebels strafed the community police assistance center in front of the market in Barangay Luna Candol, Gubat at around 6:15 p.m.

“They wanted to overrun the outpost but our policemen managed to return fire, forcing the rebels to withdraw toward Barcelona town,” Senior Superintendent Marlon Tejada, Sorsogon police director, said.

After an hour, another group of NPA guerrillas attacked the police station in Barangay Aquino in Bulan. PO2 Junnie Cañada was wounded.

Pursuit operations for the rebels are ongoing. – Raymund Catindig, Artemio Dumlao, Michael Punong-bayan, Celso Amo, Cet Dematera