Tacloban City—An army personnel and two members of Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) were killed while six others were injured after they were waylaid by alleged members of the New People’s Army near their detachment in Barangay 4, Jipapad, Eastern Samar Wednesday morning.
The government troops were more or less 70 meters away from reaching the detachment when three landmines blasted simultaneously, according to an initial report.
A firefight then ensued between the personnel of the 52nd Infantry Battalion and some 30 suspected rebels that lasted for 20 minutes.
Killed were Army Technical Sergeant Junar Carpila, and Cafgu personnel Mark Donald Lomuntad and Geremias Etcobañas.
The six other wounded Cafgu members were identified as Edwin Adamero, Francis Legarse, Manny Maestre, Ronilo Porton, Jeffrey Pajanustan, and Helbert Pajanustan.
They were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
The military also reported an undetermined number of injuries or casualties on the NPA side.
Maj. Gen. Pio Diñoso III, 8th Infantry Division commander, condemned the attack and the use of anti-personnel mines.
“It was a desperate act of these terrorists as the campaign to defeat them has reached an irreversible stage. With their backs against the wall, it is expected they will resort to their old barbaric ways.
However, I assure the people in Eastern Visayas that the whole-of-nation approach to end communist insurgency is very effective and on track,” the army official said.
“Let this small setback strengthen our resolve to finally put an end to the NPA and make the region attain the just and lasting peace it aspires. With that, our soldiers’ ultimate sacrifices will not be in vain,” he added.