[PHNO-hl] ISABELA AMBUSH: COLONEL, 13 OTHERS KILLED
solv...@csi.com.ph
Camp Aguinaldo, QC, June 29, 2000 - A senior officer of the Philippine Army
(PA) and 13 others were killed when armed men believed to be New People's Army
(NPA) rebels ambushed a five-vehicle convoy of military medical personnel in a
remote barangay in Jones, Isabela, the other day, reports reaching Camp
Aguinaldo in Quezon City said yesterday.
Reports from the 5th Infantry Division based in Gamu, Isabela identified the
slain Army officer as Col. Josefino B. Manayao, commanding officer of the 502nd
Infantry Brigade. He suffered a bullet wound in the face and was declared dead
on arrival at the Callang Hospital.
Also killed in the attack was 2nd Lt. Wilfredo Estanislao, executive oficer of
the 54th Infantry Battalion and a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA)
Class 1999.
Gen. Angelo T. Reyes, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP), condemned the latest NPA attack, claiming that their offensive
operations against non-combatant military medical personnel was a clear
manifestation of the rebel movement's disregard for human rights.
Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado joined General Reyes, Army chief Lt. Gen.
Voltaire Gazmin, and other top officials of the AFP when they drove to Jones
town yesterday morning to assess the peace and order situation in the area
following the attack.
The other fatalities were identified as Master Sgt. Romeo Q. Labor, Staff Sgt.
Berte Bustarde, Staff Sgt. Renato B. Tababa, Sgt. Joselito G. Dacanay, and Pfc.
Elorde Isang, all members of the 502nd Infantry Brigade; Staff Sgt. Jonathan W.
Jabon, Sgt. Dionisio Tabangcura, Sgt. Roberto Macadangdang, Sgt. Efren G.
Fernandez, Sgt. Buenaventura Cornejo. and Pfc. Marlon Pangalilauan, all members
of the 54th Infantry Battalion.
Maj. Dodo Iriberi, PA spokesman, said that most of the victims were on board a
six-by-six military truck which was part of a five-vehicle convoy that hit a
landmine planted by the NPA rebels in barangay Linomot, Jones, Isabela at 2
p.m. last Tuesday.
When the truck was disabled by the explosion, more than 40 heavily armed NPA
guerrillas fired at the Army troopers from their ambush positions on sides of
the road.
Manayao, who was on board the lead vehicle, returned to reinforce the
beleaguered troops but was apparently hit by sniper fire. Military authorities
said Manayao allowed the unarmed members of the AFP medical team to leave the
battle scene.
Iriberi said the elements of the 502nd Infantry Brigade and 54th Infantry
Battalion had been assigned secure a group of military doctors and nurses which
conducted a two-day medical mission in Decanay district.
Hundreds of residents from Decanay availed of free medical and dental services
from the AFP, it was learned.
Last Monday, Isabela Gov. Benjamin Dy Jr. and Jones Mayor Jesus Sebastian
joined the group in the conduct of the medical mission but returned home later
in the day.
Manayao, 50, a native of Sto. Tomas, Alliaga, Nueva Ecija, was reportedly due
for promotion to the rank of brigadier general before the end of this year.
He is survived by his wife Cornelia Manayao and children Charina, Joseph Alvin,
and Josephine.
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