(Infographic courtesy of 9ID, Philippine Army) LEGAZPI CITY - Two soldiers of the Philippine Army's 31st Infantry Battalion died in an ambush perpetrated by suspected communist-terrorist group (CTG) members while buying supplies for a search and rescue mission in Albay province on Monday. In a report on Tuesday, Capt. Frank Roldan, 9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) chief, identified the fatalities as Private John Paul C. Adalim and Private Mark June D. Esico who suffered severe bullet wounds in their bodies that caused their immediate death when ambushed at a market in Barangay Cotmon, Camalig town. "The CTG took advantage of the fact that the troops of the 31st Infantry Battalion were busy assisting in the search and rescue operation of the crashed Cessna aircraft in Albay after they ambushed two soldiers who were just buying supplies. It was learned that while the two soldiers were in the market, five armed men ambushed them and three of them indiscriminatel
(Infographiccourtesy of 9ID) LEGAZPI CITY - A still unidentified New People's Army (NPA) rebel was killed while high-powered firearms were seized when government forces engaged armed rebels in a firefight in Labo town, Camarines Norte province over the weekend. In a report on Monday, Capt. Frank Roldan, 9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) chief, said the incident occurred on Saturday after troops of the 9th Infantry Battalion verified the report they received on the alleged presence of five armed men which resulted in a firefight in n Barangay Canapawan. "Government troops recovered an M16 rifle; ammunition; magazines while the fleeing rebel members left the body of the suspected member of the rebel group who died in the encounter. Right now the identity of the said individual is being ascertained," the report read. In a statement, Maj. Gen. Adonis Bajao, commander of the 9th Infantry Division (9ID) and Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB), assured that they
Camp Elias Angeles, headquarters of thePhilippine Army in Pili, Camarines Sur (File photo) LEGAZPI CITY - Several high-powered firearms of the New People's Army (NPA) were recovered after an encounter with government troops in Sorsogon province on Wednesday. A social media post of the Philippine Army's 9th Infantry Division (9ID) on Thursday said the encounter occurred in the town of Pilar. Among the weapons recovered were two M16 rifles, two anti-personnel mines, and a Molotov bomb, as well as 10 cellphones, subversive documents, and the personal belongings of the rebels. Based on the report, the authorities received information on the alleged presence of armed men between Barangay San Vicente Grande in Daraga, Albay and the villages of Catamlangan and Pinagsalog in Pilar, which the soldiers immediately verified, resulting in a 15-minute exchange of fire. "No injured or dead troops were recorded in the said incident while the terrorists' part is still being investigat