Military brands NPA attacks on Leyte troops as desperate moves

CAMP DOWNES, ORMOC CITY, December 9 (PIA) – Military branded as desperate moves of lawless elements belonging to the New People’s Army, the attacks on government troops in Albuera and Jaro, Leyte on December 6, 2012 which resulted to the killing of 2 soldiers, and the wounding of 3 other soldiers and a civilian.

“This is another desperate act of the NPA to disrupt our efforts of bringing peace and development that will benefit our less fortunate brothers and sisters in the area,” said Colonel Rafael C. Valencia, the Brigade Commander of 802nd Infantry Brigade based in Camp Downes, Ormoc City.

He stressed however, that the incidents will not stop the government troops from pursuing their mission of winning peace for the people of Leyte.

More or less 10 lawless armed elements harassed the base of Alpha Company of 78^th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Antipolo, Albuera at around 7:50 in the evening of December 6, wounding a certain Edgar Borinaga, a resident of the said barangay.

In a separate incident, some 10 NPAs attacked troops who were providing security to members of a Bayanihan Team of 19^th Infantry Battalion conducting peace and development activities in Barangay Rubas, Jaro at around 8:00 o’clock in the evening resulting the death of two soldiers and wounding of 3 others.

Captain Dranreb Canto, Public Information Officer of the 802^nd Infantry Brigade said that the names of the military casualties are being withheld pending notification of their immediate families.

The wounded civilian in Barangay Antipolo, Albuera town was immediately brought to OSPA Hospital in Ormoc City for immediate medical treatment.

It may be recalled that on November 30, 2012, one soldier was killed and two others were wounded when elements from the 78^th Infantry Battalion were ambushed by more or less 10 NPAs at Sitio Calingatnan, Barangay San Pedro, Albuera, Leyte.

They troops were on their way back to their headquarters from peace and development efforts.