MikeLigalig.com

published by Philippine News Agency

The military has launched a pursuit operation against a group of rebels responsible for mowing down members of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion securing an anti-illegal logging mission 6:00 a.m. Tuesday at Barangay Belmonte, Laak, Compostela Valley, leaving two troopers dead and four wounded.

Major Jake Obligado, commanding officer of the 10th Civil-Military Operations Battalion based in Camp Panacan here identified the victims as Privates First Class Jefferson Galang and De Claro.

Obligado said the wounded were Privates First Class Jaime Rionda, Joey Bastian, Reynaldo Villamor and Jason Valdez who were airlifted to the Camp Panacan station hospital.

“The soldiers were providing security to the personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources who were conducting a campaign against illegal logging in the area,” Obligado said.

He said the said troops were on their way to Barangay Melali, when they were attacked, consequently leading to a fifteen-minute fire fight.

Obligado said the wounded are now in stable condition while those killed were brought to a funeral home in Tagum City. (PNA)
LAP/Joey Sem G. Dalumpines/ldp