By MARTIN SADONGDONG, MARIE TONETTE MARTICIO
Six soldiers and a suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed while 20 others on the government side were wounded in a 30-minute gunbattle between the two parties in Borongan, Eastern Samar, on Monday night.
Captain Reynaldo Aragones, Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) spokesperson, said three platoons of the Alpha and Charlie companies of the 14th Infantry Battalion (14IB) clashed with some 50 heavily armed NPA rebels around 5 p.m. at Sitio Bangon, Barangay Pinana-an.
According to Aragones, the soldiers were killed when six simultaneous improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the suspects suddenly went off at the height of the gunfight.
“We received a report from a civilian about the presence of armed NPAs who are extorting money and demanding food in the area so our troops responded,” Aragones said.
The military identified the soldiers killed in action as Sgt. Rex Jadulco, Cpl. Ronald Go, Cpl. Limar Banug, Pfc. Kent Loyd Agullo, Pvt. Charlie P Del Rosario, and Pfc. Junmar D Buranday
Wounded were Sgt. Kenneth John Arcina, Sgt. Cyril Baja, Sgt. Rando Soria, Pfc. Albert Abegonia, Pfc. Denmark Gonsaza, Pfc. Dandreb Gealon, Pfc. Reil Bilason, Pfc. Gilbert Renegado, Pfc. Rex Batis, Pfc. Jerwin Omrob, Pvt. Darwin Aborquez, Pvt. Joshua Pacuan
Pvt. Roger Moore Ditche, Sgt. Marlon Orsal, Cpl. Dominador Antonio, Cpl. Aljon Aguillos, Cpl. Linlito Donayre, Pfc. Mark Geric de Leon, Pfc. Rene Abuda, and Pvt. Jayson Beros
Authorities are yet to identify the rebel who was killed during the encounter.
Aragones said the military had difficulty evacuating the casualties due to the location of the encounter site.
He added that they had to request for a helicopter to evacuate the casualties and rush the wounded to the hospital for treatment.
“The nearest possible extraction point that can be reached by a four-wheeled vehicle is around 12 kilometers air distance in the vicinity of the nearest village, Barangay Canloterio in Maydolong town,” Aragones said.
“Our troops were operating on foot since the area is located on the mountainous side of Borongan,” he stated.
Troops from the 14th IB were deployed to reinforce the group and conduct a pursuit operation.
