THREE government militiamen died while two others were injured in an attack staged by a group of armed men in Maguindanao del Norte on Monday.
The fatalities were identified as Christian Silvestre, Ignacio Lozada, and Dondon Ahito while the wounded were Arnel Cayanan and Calbertson Baggay, all members of the Cafgu Active Auxiliary.
The military said the militiamen were securing a bridge undergoing repair in Sitio Simway, Barangay Edcor, in Buldon town when they were fired at by the suspects at around 1 a.m.
The road was among infrastructure damaged by severe tropical storm “Paeng” that struck late last month, affecting all the country’s 17 regions.
The suspects took four M14 rifles of the militiamen before escaping, the military said.
Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the military’s Joint Task Force (JTF) Central and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, condemned the attack and vowed justice for the slain and injured troops.
On Nov. 4, a soldier died and two others were injured when they were fired at by armed men while securing the Paeng-damaged bridge, which was also undergoing repair, in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan in Maguindanao del Sur.
