2 soldiers killed in ambush

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Two Army soldiers were killed in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Cauayan, Negros Occidental on Saturday.

Maj. Cenon Pancito, spokesman for the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, yesterday confirmed the death of the soldiers, who were members of the 15th Infantry Battalion.

The fatalities were on their way to a community support group when the rebels waylaid them in Sitio Cambaga in Barangay Yaoyao.

The soldiers were in civilian clothes, Pancito said.

A day earlier, police officers belonging to the Special Action Force and Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 rescued a wounded rebel left behind by his comrades following an encounter in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental.

The firefight lasted 10 minutes before the guerrillas fled, leaving behind their wounded comrade as well as several war materials, firearms, a grenade and personal belongings.

The rebel, whose name was not immediately available, was brought to a medical facility for treatment before he was turned over to authorities.

Over 360 rebels surrender

A total of 364 NPA rebels surrendered to authorities in Northern Luzon during the first quarter of this year.

The surrenderees turned over 34 firearms, Northern Luzon Command chief Lt.Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said on Saturday.

Last year, 396 rebels from Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordilleras returned to the fold of the law and were given assistance provided under the enhanced comprehensive localized integration program (E-CLIP) of the government.

“Those who surrendered in January and February are waiting for the release of their E-CLIP grants. The grant for those who surrendered last month are being processed,” Burgos said. – Ric Sapnu