2 soldiers killed in Kalinga clash

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Two Army soldiers were killed while three others were wounded in a firefight with New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Tabuk City, Kalinga the other day.

Meanwhile, two policemen were wounded in a separate encounter with suspected communist rebels in Mt. Province also last Friday.

Cpl. Dominador Concordia and Pfc. Rey Raagas, both of the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion based in Gamu, Isabela were killed in a firefight in Barangay Dupag.

Wounded in the encounter were 2/Lt. Czar Carsido, and Pfcs. Marnel Langnga and Kennedy Sallaya wounded.

Reports said the troops were responding to the villagers’ complaints about the presence of armed men engaging in extortion activities, when the rebels opened fire at them as they were approaching Sitio Tumiangan.

1/Lt. Rowena Abayon, spokesperson for the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said an exchange of fire ensued. Citing villagers’ accounts, she said the rebels also suffered casualties.

Meanwhile, joint Army and Cordillera police operatives continued the clearing operation yesterday following hours of air strike on suspected communist lairs in Sagada, Mt. Province.

The air strike was in response to an earlier encounter between the police and NPA rebels in Sagada that left wounded Police Officers 1 Primo Marcelo and Romel Saggot.

The two police officers were taken to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.

The rebels were believed to be members of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Guerrila, whom authorities tagged for the ambush of about a hundred police trainees in Tadian, Mt. province in July that left one trainee dead.