3 soldiers wounded in NPA ambush

Three soldiers were wounded on Tuesday after a Community Support Program (CSP) Team from the Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion, was ambushed suspected elements of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar.

First Lt. Allan Jay P. Buerano, Civil-Military Operations officer of the 43rd IB, said the NPA terrorists used Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and volley of gunfire to ambush the troops who were conducting Community Service, at Barangay Roxas, Lope de Vega, at about 9:10 a.m..

Wounded were as Pfc Jeremy P. Razid, Pfc. Marvin R. Rivera, and Pfc. Noriel M. Guarte.

They were brought to the nearest hospital for immediate medical treatment.

Buerano said the CSP was intended to deliver basic services, promote livelihood programs and empower communities to interior barangays of Sumoroy, Curry, Paguite and Roxas all of the Municipality of Lope de Vega, Northern Samar to address the problems affecting peace and security in the areas.

He said the 43rd IB condemns the barbaric act done by the CNTs particularly using IEDs, which resulted to the wounding of the government troops performing their task in CSP.

“This illegal activity of the NPA is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law and Comprehensive Agreement for Respect on Human Rights and International Law (CARHIL), were the CNTs is one of the signatories of this agreement,” Buerano said.

“The 43rd IB ensures that the recent incident will not stop its troops in facilitating the delivery of basic services and livelihood program in the area. Your Army will still pursue and still committed to continue its mandated duty to protect the welfare of the populace in the far-flung areas,” he added.

The 43rd IB is also calling for the massive support of the communities to report any presence of armed group in their barangays to help stop violent incidents that hinders the sustainable development of the municipality.