Camarines Sur Ambush: 3 Dead

LEGAZPI CITY, April 2 (PNA) -- Suspected communist rebels ambushed and killed three Philippine Army (PA) soldiers, while two others were injured on Wednesday in Ragay, Camarines Sur.

An Army official today identified those killed as Army Cpl. James Caronan, Pfc. Noel Bagao, and Pfc. Rolly Caitor.

Wounded were Pfc. Domingo Solares and Pfc. Ricardo Salvador, all members of the 31st PA Infantry Battalion based in Ragay town.

Army Capt. Razaliegh Bansawan, 901st Army Brigade spokesman, said the ambush happened at around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Barangay Upper Sta. Cruz, Ragay, a railroad town in the First District of Camarines Sur.

Bansawan reported the unarmed soldiers were riding on four motorcycles on their way to the town market to buy food supplies when they were waylaid by an undetermined number of New People's Army (NPA) rebels.

The victims were fired at by the rebels armed with assault rifles and were pre-positioned at a vantage point on the roadside leading to the town proper.

The victims sustained fatal gunshot wounds that killed them instantly, while the wounded were rushed by responding army soldiers to the Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City for treatment.

Army Cpl. Nolan Yatar who managed to escape the ambuscade was able to call for assistance at the Army patrol base in said town.

The attackers who were members of the NPA's Tomas Pilapil Command, swiftly fled towards neighboring villages of the town.

Army soldiers were scouring the area to hunt down the NPA attackers. (PNA)