By WIGAN MONCONTAD
Spokesperson, Nona del Rosario Command
NPA Ifugao Province
At least five high-powered firearms were seized by the New People’s Army in an ambush carried out the other day in Tinoc, Ifugao. Arms seized from the enemy include four M-16 rifles and a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), one Harris Radio Transceiver, and bullets. The ambuscade was carried out by a unit of the NPA in Ifugao against the forces of the 86th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, who were aboard three six-by-six trucks at Sitio Dontogto, Barangay Binablayan, Tinoc, Ifugao last 25 April at 8:40 am.
The troops came from a turn-over ceremony of the B Company (86th IBPA) at Tinoc, and were on their way back to their Battalion Headquarters in Tiger Hill, Kiangan, Ifugao. Around 20 enemy troops were killed in action while an undetermined number were wounded.
Among those killed was Battalion S3 officer Capt. Seigfred Kafilas. A female civilian who was the wife of one of the soldiers was caught in the crossfire and died. Two of the enemy’s vehicles were destroyed. The NPA suffered no casualty and safely withdrew.
The ambush was carried out as a punishment for the violence unleashed by the military and police against the people of Tinoc and the rape by the former commanding officer of the B Company of the 86th IB against two minor girls from Mankayan, Benguet, an area covered by the operation of the battalion.