TWO Army soldiers were killed and three others were injured when they were attacked by New People’s Army rebels in Maria Aurora town in Aurora on Tuesday, the military reported yesterday.
Maj. Armado Gutierrez, spokesman of the Nueva Ecija-based 7th Infantry Division, said the incident involving troops of the 91st Infantry Battalion occurred around noon in Barangay Diat.
Gutierrez said the soldiers were sent to the barangay to provide security to personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development who were to distribute Social Amelioration Program (SAP) financial assistance to the residents.
“Upon arrival at the said barangay, they (soldiers) received information from the local populace about the presence of armed bandits near their location,” Gutierrez said.
While en route to the rebel location, the soldiers were fired at by about 20 rebels, inflicting fatal wounds on the two soldiers and slightly wounding three others, Gutierrez said.
“Under heavy fire, the troops defended their location for about an hour and forced the NPA terrorists to escape to different directions,” Gutierrez said, adding pursuit operations are ongoing as of yesterday.
Mayor Amado Geneta requested the deployment of the soldiers in the barangay to guard against NPA interference in the distribution of the SAP benefits, according to Gutierrez.
9th IB commander Lt. Col. Reandrew Rubio said, “The troops were in the said area to enforce COVID-19 protocols during SAP distribution and to secure the said activity from the terrorists.”
Rubio said they received prior information the rebels will demand part of their SAP benefits they will get from the DSWD.
“It is unfortunate that this thing happened in our desire to help the needy folk in Barangay Diaat, to receive their much-needed cash assistance,” Rubio said, criticizing the rebels for causing trouble instead of helping the residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
7th ID commander Brig. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr. said they will not let the incident pass, adding: “Sooner or later, we will catch these bandits, and for sure they will pay for the crimes they have committed.”
