CAMP MELCHOR F. DELA CRUZ, Isabela – A soldier drowned on a river while on a mission against the New People’s Army in Gattaran, Cagayan on Thursday, April 20.
Major Rigor Pamittan, spokesperson of the Army 5th Infantry Division, identified the victim as Private Raymund Mones, 23, of Barangay Unzad, Villasis, Pangasinan and a member of the Special Forces Unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Pamittan said the victim was crossing a river with his unit when he was carried away by the strong current.
The victim’s unit is under the operational control of the Army 5th ID assigned to help in the intensified campaign against the remnants of the Komiteng Rehiyon Cagayan Valley of the NPA.
Mones’ cadaver was brought by his unit to his residence in Villasis.