2 minors killed in NPA ambush vs. gov't troops in Northern Samar —military

Two minors were killed and another civilian was injured on Tuesday after New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed Philippine Army troops in Catubig, Northern Samar, the military said Thursday.

The Joint Task Force Storm and 8th Infantry Division said the 12-year-old victim was declared dead on arrival at the Catubig Hospital, while the 13-year-old victim died the next morning at the Northern Samar hospital.

"Before he died, the 13-year-old boy was able to narrate to the barangay officials that they were hit by NPA gunfires,”  8ID commander Major General Edgardo de Leon said in a statement.

“The 26-year-old survivor revealed that they were behind the soldiers when the NPAs opened fire, prompting them to run away but unfortunately they were hit,” he added.

The troops were on their way to check the reported presence of NPA rebels in Barangay Roxas when attacked, according to 803rd Brigade commander Colonel Perfecto Peñaredondo.

The troops managed to duck and drop on the ground, but the civilians behind them got hit, he said.

Another minor managed to escape and reported the incident to barangay officers. The personnel of the barangay responded and evacuated the victims to hospitals.

According to the military, the Catubig government and Northern Samar government provided assistance to the relatives of  the deceased victims and to the injured civilian. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News