PILI, Camarines Sur ? President Macapagal-Arroyo gave out, on Monday, posthumous awards to five soldiers who were killed in attacks by the communist New People?s Army in this province on late Saturday afternoon and early Sunday.

Arroyo visited the wake of four of the five soldiers in the chapel of the 9th Infantry Division at Camp Elias.

Team leader and 2nd Lieutenant Miguel Logronio Jr., Private First Class Albert Jamera, Pfc. Edwin Britanico and Corporal Arturo Hernandez, died in an ambush by the New People?s Army rebels early Sunday while on combat patrol to retrieve the body of Pfc. Alvin Arias, who was slain on Saturday afternoon.

Arias was killed by sniper fire during an attack on the Army's mobile detachment late Saturday afternoon in Barangay (village) Bicalen in Presentacion town. His remains had been sent home to his family in Bula town.

The outgoing president, who arrived at Camp Elias Angeles here by helicopter at around 2 p.m., also provided P1.4 million in cash assistance to the families of the five soldiers.

Col. Leoncio Cirunay, spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division, said Arroyo stayed for 30 minutes here, talked with the relatives of the victims and had a short meeting with Major Gen. Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the 9th ID.

Medals of recognition and assistance were also given to soldiers who were wounded in Sunday?s operations.

Arias was among the group of soldiers who had been guarding the government?s infrastructure projects in the province.

Military officials in the province said the NPA had been attacking in a bid to extort money from the private contractors implementing the government?s infrastructure projects.