ONE officer and six soldiers were wounded while one elderly civilian woman was killed when they were ambushed by alleged communist rebels in Puerto Maputi, Barangay Maharlika, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, Sunday.
The soldiers were reportedly sent to the area to conduct disaster relief and rescue operations for the victims of Tropical Storm Sendong.
In a statement, the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army identified the wounded soldiers as 2nd Lieutenant Michael Apascua, Private First Class (Pfc) Renan A. Bertillo, Pfc Alberto J. Caballo, Pfc Gregorio Dacayanan Jr., Pfc John Rey R. Del Rosario, Pfc Mon Claire Wiff P. Fernandez and Pfc Efraim Joy M. Manalili.
They sustained slight injuries and were brought to the Soriano Memorial Hospital in Mangagoy, Bislig City for proper treatment.
The civilian who died was identified as Lilia Lalisan, 63, a resident of Sitio Maputi, Dona Carmen, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur.
The military said more or less 15 armed rebels believed to be members of SECOM 14 detonated an improvised explosive device when elements of Charlie Company, 75IB on board a military truck were traversing along Maputi-Bislig road.
The military said Lalisan was travelling with the soldiers when the incident happened. She was on her way to the market and asked for transportation assistance from the soldiers.
The attack is reportedly the second violation of the NPA since the suspension of offensive military operations (Somo) took effect last Friday.
On the same day, four children were also injured when an M203 ammunition from the NPA exploded in front of children in Barngay Mabuhay, Tandag City.
It can be remembered that last Friday in the same village, a group of rebels also murdered five soldiers and injured two others using high-powered firearms, including the use of M203s.
The military said such act is a clear violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law of which the NPA is a signatory.
Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III declared an 18-day unilateral suspension of offensive military operations from December 16, 2011 to January 2, 2012, in view of the celebration of the yuletide season.
However, the military said the NPA remained unmoved and unrelenting.
“I, together with the 4ID troopers, condole with the family of the civilian who was caught in the firefight because of this outright treachery of the NPA,” said Major General Victor A. Felix, 4ID commander.
Felix said he is enraged of this callousness by the NPA.
“Instead of heeding the call of the government and the people for a temporary ceasefire since it is the yuletide Season and many of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao suffered devastation and loss not only of material belongings and properties but also of loved ones because of typhoon ‘Sendong’, they grew even more aggressive in conducting more harassments against the government and civilian populace,” he said.
Because of this, Felix said he is reiterating his instructions to all unit commanders to conduct an immediate pursuit operation against “these criminals” in accordance to law enforcement operation as authorized by the provisions of Somo.
