6 soldiers hurt in roadside bombing

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Six soldiers were wounded after Communist terrorists reportedly attacked a military convoy by detonating two roadside bombs in Magpet, North Cotabato, police said on Thursday.

Magpet police station chief Jose Mari Molina said the soldiers belonging to the 19th Infantry Battalion were aboard a military truck on their way back to camp from a medical mission when a land mine exploded as they were traversing the highway in Barangay Doles, Magpet past 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Molina identified the victims as Second Lt. Rustine Barco, Corp. Ronie Gutierez, Corp. Roldan Pargon, PFC Shanon Obaldo, PFC Dennies Andol and Pvt. Roland Bublao, all members of the 19th IB medical team.

According to Cotabato Governor Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, the wounded soldiers were immediately rushed to the Madonna General Hospital in Kidapawan City.

She added Barco and Gutierrez were transferred to Davao City on Thursday evening, and was scheduled to be airlifted on Friday to Manila for further treatment. A splinter hit Barco’s nose while another bomb fragment was embedded in Gutierrez’s head.

The two had been seated next to the driver when the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) went off.

Mendoza said the soliders had just provided security in a medical mission conducted by the North Cotabato government in Barangay Binay when it was attacked.

The bomb was reportedly detonated by terrorists belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA) Guerrilla Front 53 in Barangay Doles, a known NPA stronghold.

The convoy, which was already on its way back to the town proper, was composed of four vehicles, reports said.

The staff, personnel, and volunteers of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) North Cotabato were onboard two vehicles marked number one and two; while the 19th IB soldiers were onboard two military trucks marked numbers three and four.

The medical team conducted free circumcision, dental, and other medical services in Barangay Binay, according to Mendoza.

After the first two vehicles had passed through a rough road along Barangay Doles, two loud blasts were heard and hit the Army trucks, reports added.

Although IPHO personnel were declared safe and unharmed, the blasts created a “wave of panic” among them, reports said.