11 soldiers, civilian killed in NPA ambush in Ifugao — police

(Updated 4:15 p.m.) Twelve people, 11 of them soldiers, were killed Wednesday in an ambush staged by communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Ifugao province in northern Philippines, police and military officials said. "Pabalik ng kampo galing turnover kase papalitan ng sila ng isang company nang tambangan ng NPA," Senior Superintendent Lawrence Mombael, director of Ifugao police, said in a text message. The ambush happened at about 8 a.m., he said.  Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, regional police director in the Cordillera region, said two civilians — still unidentified as of posting time — were also killed in the crossfire. But latest information from the military said the casualties stood at 11 soldiers and a civilian killed and at least one civilian, earlier reported to have been killed, was wounded.  The ambush, which occurred at Sitio Buhyo in Barangay Gumhang-Binablayan in Tinoc town, came less than a month after the NPA observed its 43rd founding anniversary on March 29.  According to the military, the outlawed group had a strenght of 4,043 members as of end of last year, compared to 4,383 in December 2010.    The NPA has been fighting for the overthrow of the government for more than four decades. Peace talks with them have been on and off. — KBK/RSJ, GMA News