5 troops killed, 2 hurt in Surigao del Sur ambush

MANILA, Philippines - Five soldiers were killed while two others were hurt following an ambush by suspected communist rebels in the southern Philippine province of Surigao del Sur Tuesday afternoon, the spokesman for the Philippine Army said. In a statement issued Wednesday, Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said the incident occurred 4:20 p.m. when a landmine blast hit government troops aboard an Isuzu Elf truck at Sitio Bantolinao in Ganayon village in Lianga town. Those killed were identified as: MSgt. Rolly Banag, TSgt. Juanito Tela, Sgt. Ruel Ortero, Cpl. Amil Julmadi, and Pfc Piong Jalain. The wounded were identified as SSgt. Danilo Mamocay and Cpl. Haliddin Habibun. Brawner said the victims were part of a team under Cpt. Allan Espela from the Army Personnel Management Center (APMC) in Fort Bonifacio, who went around Army camps in the country to administer the Promotional Examination (PROMEX) to prospective promotes among enlisted personnel. At the time of the incident, the soldiers were on their way to Headquarters 401st Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. The ambush involved an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists under Sentro De Grabidad (SDG) Platun 7, FS 19A led by aliases Ado and Dodoy, the Army statement said. Government troops lost five firearms, ammunition, a laptop, cellular phones and personal belongings. Mamocay and Jalain were immediately evacuated to the Lianga District Hospital in Poblacion Lianga but the latter was declared dead on arrival by his attending physician. On the other hand, Habibun was evacuated to the Democrito O. Plaza District Hospital in Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur where he is now recovering. A platoon from 401st Infantry Brigade was immediately deployed to go after the perpetrators. - GMANews.TV