Two soldiers were killed, while another one was injured in a skirmish at about 9:50 a.m. yesterday with suspected New People’s Army rebels in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
This happened two days after government troopers overran two rebel camps in the hinterlands of Sipalay City.
A platoon-sized unit of the 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers were on security patrol in Brgy. Andres Bonifacio, Cadiz City, when they figured in an encounter with a group of rebels, which led to the killing of Private First Class Crispy Ryan Toledo and PFC Nazario Buenavidez, a military report said.
Lt. Col. Isabelo de los Reyes, 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations officer, said Sgt. Alfredo Isidro Jr., who was hit in the left leg, is now being treated at a private hospital in Bacolod City.
De los Reyes said Army soldiers stationed at the 62IB tactical commander post temporarily stationed in the place, responded to information relayed to them about the presence of a group of armed NPA rebels.
On their way to a remote area of the barangay, he said, the government troopers were waylaid by the armed men and this led to about 15 minutes of gunbattle and the death of the two soldiers, and the wounding of another.
This bolstered reports that the ambush was set up, and the |