CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion has launched a manhunt against a band of communist New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels responsible for the roadside bombing in North Cotabato on Thursday that injured six soldiers, including an Army lieutenant.
Lt. Colonel Randy Llunar, 19th IB commander, said military operation is ongoing as of posting time in the hinterlands of Magpet, an upland town in North Cotabato considered a hotbed for communist insurgency.
Llunar said the soldiers were returning to the provincial capitol from a medical mission at a far-flung village at past 1 p.m. when the bomb, believed to be a landmine, exploded on a dirt road in Purok 1 Barangay Doles, Magpet.
Injured were 2nd Lt. Rustine Barco, Corporals Ronnie Gutierrez, Roldan Parcon, Shanon Obaldo, Privates first class Rolando Bublao and Dennis Andol. They were rushed to Madonna Hospital in Kidapawan City following the incident.
Llunar said after the blast, the rebels positioned on both sides of the provincial road opened fire, triggering a brief firefight. He said the town police, led by Senior Insp. Jose Mari Molina, immediately put up chokepoints as reinforcement for the soldiers.
North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza condemned the incident.
“The provincial government of North Cotabato strongly condemns this terroristic attack on the medical team whose only purpose is to deliver basic social services to the people,” Mendoza said. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
