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SURIGAO DEL SUR (MindaNews/06 August) — An Army soldier was killed while six others were injured in an ambush Saturday afternoon by suspected New People’s Army guerrillas who abducted the mayor of Lingig town and his two Army escorts earlier in the morning in Barangay Pagbakatan.
Lt. Charlene Gabatin, chief of the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade, said the soldiers were ambushed in Barangay Pagbakatan, ambushed soldiers were from the Army’s 75th IB who were deployed for hot pursuit operations to rescue Lingig mayor Henry Dano and his two military escorts who were abducted early morning by the rebels.
Dano’s military escorts are from the 75th IB.
Chief Supt. Reynaldo Rafal, regional police chief, earlier ordered Sr. Supt. Jolito Diray, Surigao del Sur’s police director, “to exhaust efforts and coordination for the immediate release” of the mayor and his escorts.
Rafal said they have already coordinated with the Region 10 Police Regional Office and the Army’s 75th IB who have jurisdiction over the area.
A police report reaching Rafal’s office said the NPA fled with their captives on board three vans. The vehicles were seen heading to Boston town in Davao Oriental.
Rafal said Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel has activated the Provincial Crisis Management Committee. (Alden Pantaleon/MindaNews)