Communist militants killed an army officer, a soldier, and a pro-government militiaman in an ambush Monday in Compostela Valley province in the southern Philippines. Officials said the three were traveling by motorcycle when New People's Army rebels attacked them in Candinuyan village in Mabini town. Eastern Mindanao Command strongly condemned the killings which happened while both sides are supposed to be observing a cease-fire.
Lieutenant Genera Aurelio Baladad, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, promised to exert great effort to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice. He said the soldiers were in civilian clothes, unarmed, and on their way to visit their families when the militants ambushed them.
Baladad said, "We sympathize with the bereaved families of our slain personnel. It is so sad to note that they were killed while on their way to their families who missed them during Christmas as they were tasked to ensure a peaceful yuletide celebration in Candinuyan. We will exert all efforts to bring to justice those responsible for this merciless and cowardly crime."
He said the militants even stripped the dead of their clothes and belongings before fleeing with the victims’ motorcycle.