By ERWIN MASCARIÑAS
Correspondent
BUTUAN City–Suspected New People’s Army rebels killed a soldier and a militiaman in an ambush in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, on Tuesday morning.
Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan, civil-military officer of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, identified the fatalities as Pfc. Arwin Saclet Niegos, 33, of Barangay Antonio, Roxas in Palawan, and Ramie Tabano Austria, 40, of Barangay San Isidro, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur.
Niegos was with the 7th Special Forces Company while Austria was a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit.
Niegos and Austria succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds all over.
The Caraga police said the victims were riding motorcycles together with Pfcs. Don Carlos Asentista and Paul John Montilla when they were attacked after leaving their Palonpon Patrol Base in Barangay Mahaba, Marihatag.
Police said some 20 suspected members of the Guerrilla Front 19 of the NPA’s Northeastern Mindanao Regional Command attacked from a higher elevation in Purok Santol, Barangay San Isidro in Marihatag at around 8:40 am.
Investigators found empty M-16 assault rifle cartridges at the crime scene, and they said the rebels took their victims’ guns.
Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr, police director for Caraga, ordered checkpoint security to be stepped up while pursuit operations are being conducted by the military.
