TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Despite denial from the police, the New People’s Army (NPA) said they killed eight military troops in two consecutive firefights with the government forces.
In a statement, the NPA-Cagayan admitted to launching the “ambushes” in Baggao and Gattaran town on Sunday, June 25 and Monday, June 26, respectively.
The statement said the attack in Baggao town on Sunday allegedly killed two (2) members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Military Intelligence Group.
“Two military intelligence were killed and six more were wounded after a ten- minute firefight ensued,” the communist guerrilla said in their statement.
In an earlier report, police said about 30 NPA rebels attacked the house of Dexter Remudaro, a retired soldier, in Barangay San Jose in Baggao around 9 pm on Sunday.
(READ: 2 civilians hurt as suspected NPAs attack in Cagayan )
Investigators suspect that Remudaro was the main target, but he was not in his house when the rebels launched the attack. His son and one of his aides, however, were wounded.
He said the attack might the rebel’s way of getting back at Remudaro for his former job as military.
Meanwhile, the statement also said that their attacks to government troops in Barangay San Carlos in Gattaran allegedly resulted to the deaths of the six soldiers.
(READ: Cagayan police chief, team survive encounter with NPA rebels )
“Today at 12:30 pm, the NPA ambushed the 17th Infantry Battalion in Barangay San Carlos, Gattaran. The operating government troops suffered six more casualties,” it said.
The police and military have condemned the attacks and denied that the government troops suffered casualties. Northernforum.net
