Soldier killed, two hurt in Batangas ambush

A soldier was killed while two others were hurt in a surprise attack launched by suspected members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) in Batangas last Wednesday, the spokesperson of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Friday. Airman First Class Darwin de Roxas died on the spot after suspected communist rebels fired at him and two other soldiers in Barangay Calantas in Calaca town at 1 p.m., PAF spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Okol told reporters on Friday. Those injured were identified as Airmen Second Class Rommel Tiosin and Aaron Manalo. The two were brought to Madonna hospital in Balayan town for treatment, according to Okol. The three soldiers, who were part of community development teams involved in outreach programs in the area, were riding motorcycles in civilian clothes when they were ambushed, Okol said. “They were not really combatants that time. They were on their way home. They were in civilian clothes, so apparently they were ambushed," he said in Filipino in a phone interview. He added that the three were about to visit friends in the area when they were “treacherously" attacked. Pursuit operations are currently being held as of to track down the soldiers’ attackers, Okol said. — ACC/RJAB Jr./LBG, GMANews.TV