Two soldiers were killed by alleged members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in an ambush at Malibcong town in Abra, the 5th Infantry Division (5ID) said on Thursday.
In a statement, 5ID said the two troops of the 24th Infantry Battalion (IB) were preparing for a disaster response operation to help the affected areas hit by the magnitude 6.4 earthquake when they were attacked.
“It is very unfortunate that while we are helping the residents devastated by the earthquake, two of our troops were killed,” Lieutenant Commander Ricardo Garcia III, Battalion Commander of 24IB, said.
Apart from the two fallen soldiers, he said one soldier got wounded and one was still missing.
"We condemn in the strongest terms possible, the barbaric act of the CTG. We assure our people, particularly the families of our soldiers that we will pursue the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” Garcia said.
Brig. Gen. Audrey Pasia, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division, warned the members of the CTG that they would not stop until justice is served for the two fallen troops.
“This gruesome ambush against our soldiers in disaster response mode is another proof of their cruelty and inhumanity to our countrymen. Naghihirap na nga ang kababayan natin sa trahedya, itong mga nais na tumulong at magresponde na sundalo natin sana ay walang awang pinaslang nila,” he underscored.
