Four soldiers and a civilian killed as NPA attack Army Peace & Development Team in Camarines Norte

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur, April 30 – Four (4) soldiers and a civilian perished when more than 20 NPA rebels attacked an Army Peace and Development Team (PDT) of the 49^th Infantry Battalion at 12:30 this afternoon in the village of Maot in Labo, Camarines Norte.

The 9-man PDT and First Lieutenant Eric Estrevillo were conducting community work when heavy volume of enemy fires stormed the village that instantly killed a civilian identified as Francisco Ruales, 49yo. Another civilian was wounded and identified as Marlo Matibang.

The PDT, which was divided in three different but adjacent locations when the attack happened, was able to engage the NPA rebels in a 40-minute fire fight. Four soldiers were unlucky to make it alive. They were identified as Corporal Amado A. Perillo, Private First Class Paulo Orticio, Private First Class Teodoro C. Ojeda and Private First Class Sonecio D. Potian.

“Corporal Perillo was even holding the Philippine Flag in his chest when we recovered his lifeless body,” said 1^st lieutenant Alfie Lee, one of the first to reinforce in the area.

Another soldier identified as Private First Class Leland L. Besada sustained a gunshot wound in the neck but was safely evacuated with Marlo Matibang at Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital in the Municipality of Daet for immediate treatment.

According to 1^st Lieut Estrevillo, he and another soldier were at the vicinity of the barangay hall while six soldiers were conducting house to house dialogue nearby. Another soldier was at the village outpost when the attacked happened.

The rebels were able to take with them six M16 rifles, a K3 sub machinegun and a caliber .45 pistol from the soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel Epimaco Macalisang, Commanding Officer of the 49^th Infantry Battalion in Labo, Camarines Norte condemned the attack. “My soldiers were doing community work when the NPA rebels attacked. Worse, an innocent civilian was killed.” he said.

Colonel Richard Q. Lagrana, Commander of the 902^nd Infantry Brigade directed the 49^th IB to conduct sustained pursuit operation to track down the perpetrators. He has also directed the deployment of other troops to hunt down the rebels.

The bodies of the victims were brought at St Peter’s Funeral Homes in Daet and is expected to be at the St Martin of Tours Chapel at the Headquarters of the 9^th Infantry Division tomorrow afternoon were honors to will be given to the fallen soldiers.

“They are heroes,” said Major General Josue S. Gaverza, Jr, Commander of the 9^th Infantry Division. He acknowledged the soldiers’ bravery adding “Despite overwhelming number of rebels, The four who died  stood their ground until their last bullet while others were able to occupy an advantage position to repulse the rebels.”

Gaverza also directed the creation of a Board of Inquiry to look into possible lapses incurred in order to improve the conduct of similar future PDT operations. (Maj. AGuzman, PAO, 9ID, PA/ PIA Sorsogon)