3 Marines die in Palawan ambush on day 1 of 'truce'

Three Marines died when about 20 alleged members of the New People's Army ambushed a Marine battalion unit in San Vicente town in Palawan, radio dzBB reported Sunday. The report said the fatalities, whose identities have not yet been disclosed by the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), died at Binga village about 6:30 a.m., Sunday, when the alleged rebels led by a certain "Ka Hadji" raided the area. The victims were from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 9, the report said. Their remains were airlifted from San Vicente to Puerto Princesa City. The AFP reportedly deplored the incident, calling it "unjust" as the killings happened on the day the government implemented the three-week holiday truce with communist rebels. In an interview with dzBB later in the day, Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP spokesman, said the military, "out of propriety," would not yet identify the victims, until their immediate relatives are informed about their deaths. Bacarro also said the attack was not related to military operations in the area. "They (Marines) were to buy something in the town proper, this falls under administrative movement." - GMANews.TV