NPA ambush military personnel on CIVAC

By 1Lt. ROSA MA. CRISTINA T. ROSETE (FA) PA
January 19, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  – The convoy of Col. Joel Joseph Cabides, Commanding Officer of 801st Brigade were ambushed at vicinity Brgy. Caranas, Motiong, Samar on January 15, 2006 at around 10:10 a.m. Four personnel were killed and seven wounded in the incident. One M35 truck was also damaged in the ambush. No firearm was lost due to troop alertness and presence of mind and instead recovered one firearm (cal .38 rev) and two enemy killed (body count).

The fatalities are 2Lt. Ruby Dellano, Sgt. Jesus Relao, Pfc. Roy Sulpico and Pfc. Antonio Tejo Jr. Lt. Dellano was with the Special Operations Company, 8ID, PA for more than a year as Platoon Leader and at the time of her death is the OIC of SOT in Jiabong, Samar. Under her leadership, hundreds of residents (regular armed members and sympathizers) surrendered and denounced their support to the CPP/NPA/NDF since she was able to win the hearts and minds of the said municipality. She is scheduled to tie the knot to her long time sweetheart this year.

The troops just conducted Medical and Dental CIVAC in San Jose de Buan, Samar as part of its program to help the government deliver basic services when they were ambushed by the Communist Terrorists (CTs). The wounded were immediately brought to Camp Lukban Station Hospital and are now recuperating while the fatalities are presently at the NCO Club House of this command. Wounded are SSg. Narciso Adao, SSg. Anatalio Maraon, Sgt. Baltazar Abalos, Cpl. Laguinario Luzon, Cpl. Bryan General, Pfc. Alberto Datuin and Pfc. Mark Luis Conde.

The suspects are believed to be numbering more or less thirty (30) heavily armed CTs with M60 machinegun led by unknown commander operating in the western portion of Samar Island.

This violent incident perpetrated by the CTs was done to slow down the military in its relentless drive to expose the deceptive and evil ways of the NPA and free the civilian populace from their stranglehold. The decisiveness of the command to eradicate/solve insurgency in the soonest possible time frantically made the CTs murder soldiers who were just doing their mandated duty of protecting democracy.

The ambush violates the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Law (CARHRIL) signed by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the CPP/NPA/NDF. (Note that the militants had been repeatedly accusing the command of ignoring the CARHRIL) Among the violations committed by the CTs during the ambush were the killing and wounding of medical personnel. The terrorists have a full view of the passengers of the M35 truck who are mostly in civilian attire but still fired at the defenseless people on the said vehicle.

In his statement MGen. Bonifacio B. Ramos, Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army said, “The incident confirms that the CPP/NPA is anti-people, do not respect human rights and employed minors in combat as determined from enemy dead recovered. The cold-blooded murder and excessive use of force to sow fear in the hearts of the people of Samar is a trademark of a terrorist organization. Indeed, the Communist Terrorists can resort to terroristic acts with total disregard of human rights and lives. As Commanding General of the 8ID, I condemn this murder of four soldiers in the strongest possible terms. I call upon our citizens, people’s organizations and the so-called human rights groups to condemn the Communist Terrorist as well. I challenge the Bayan Muna and the militants to condemn the NPA and the Communist Party” He added “I would like to further assure the people of Region 8 that the 8th Infantry Division in close coordination with the Philippine National Police will relentlessly pursue these lawless elements who are terrorizing our people.”

At present, the bereaved family of the casualties and the 8th Infantry Division is preparing to file criminal and human rights charges against the perpetrators of the cruel incident.