By Marie Tonette Marticio

TACLOBAN CITY – Following the death of 2 soldiers on Monday, a child was killed in another attack by suspected members of the New People’s Army in Las Navas, Northern Samar at around 09:45 a.m. Wednesday (April 17).

The improvised explosive device (IED) blast fatally wounded a child identified as Armando Remolde, 9 years old and a resident of Brgy San Miguel, Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Reports disclosed that suspected communist rebels harassed the troops of the 20th Infantry Battalion’s temporary patrol base in Barangay San Miguel of said town, wherein the child was hit in the said explosion.

Authorities tried to revive the victim but to no avail.

Lt. Col. Allan Gullem, who only assumed as 20th IB commander yesterday condemns strongly the atrocity perpetrated by the rebel groups.

He said that they are in close coordination with the PNP to track the still unidentified suspects.

On Monday, Cpl. Robert Bueno and PFC Ronel Labid, both intelligence operatives of the 20th Infantry Battalion were killed in an ambush between the boundary of Brgys. San Antonio and Catotoogan, both in Las Navas town.

They were providing a clearing and route security for the personnel of the 543rd Engineering Construction Battalion (ECB) who were conducting a road project inspection under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program.