Soldier hurt in ambush in Aurora; Angara denies ambush reports

One soldier was hurt after members of the New People's Army (NPA) ambushed a team from the 69th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Dinalungan town in Aurora province Saturday, ABS-CBN News learned.

Senior Police Officer 4 Domingo Tersona, radio operator of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 3's Tactical Operations Center said that a team of seven soldiers from the 69th IB stationed at Dibacong, Casiguran, Aurora, was ambushed at Sitio Marabini, Barangay Nipoo in Dinalungan by around 15 heavily-armed men from the NPA at around 1 p.m. Saturday.

The group, led by 2nd Lt. Carlito Torres, was reportedly on their way to back to their detachment aboard a 6 x 6 military truck when the attack occurred.

A certain Corporal Usita, identified as the truck driver, was injured in the attack and was rushed to the Casiguran District Hospital for emergency treatment.

The rebels reportedly fled to the mountainous part of Sitio Marabini immediately after the attack.

Meanwhile Sen. Edgardo Angara denied rumors that his vehicle and its accompanying convoy were ambushed.

Angara was in Dinalungan town reportedly to attend the opening of a center for coconut production and research with her sister Aurora Gov. Bella Angara Castillo.

A report said Angara was already out of Dinalungan town when the NPA ambush against the Army unit occurred.

NPA rebels ambush soldiers in Aurora after Angara visit

(Updated 11:50 p.m.) Suspected communist rebels fired at Army troopers who have just provided security to the visit of Senator Edgardo Angara in Aurora province Saturday afternoon, injuring one soldier, a military official said.

Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, commander of the Northern Luzon Command, said the attack happened around 1:30 p.m. at Barangay Nipoo, Dinalungan town.

Maclang said soldiers from the 69th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, led by a certain 2Lt. Torres, were on their way back already to their base when undetermined number of suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels fired at them.

Earlier, Angara laughed off reports he was ambushed in the province, while launching several government projects there.

Angara told dzBB radio he was on a boat heading for Casiguran when the supposed ambush took place.

"Walang katotohanan yan. Nakasakay kami sa barko papunta kami Casiguran (That's not true. We were on a ship heading for Casiguran)," he said.

He said he never traveled by land in the area.

Chief Supt. Errol Pan, Central Luzon police director, added in a separate interview that police and local military troops are now in pursuit of the attackers.

"In pursuit ang aming mobile group at Army (Our police mobile group and the Army are in pursuit of the perpetrators)," he said.

Radio reports said at least one soldier was wounded after suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels ambushed a group of soldiers near a place where a program was held and attended by Angara and his sister in the province on Saturday.

Radio dzRH reported that neither Angara nor his sister, Gov. Bella Angara Castillo, was injured in the supposed attack on the event site. - GMANews.TV