Young officer on way to family reunion slain by NPA
MANILA, Philippines—He was on his way home for a family reunion in Bohol when he was waylaid and killed by communist New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Compostela Valley.
Col. Harold Cabunoc, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office, said that Lt. Ronald Bautista, a 2011 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, was allowed a New Year’s break and was scheduled on Dec. 29 to fly to Bohol from Davao City.
But on the same day, Bautista and two other soldiers were ambushed by NPA rebels in Mabini, Compostela Valley. The two others who were also killed were identified as Pfc. Albert Amor and civilian armed auxiliary member Renel Baluca.
Other atrocities
“He was returning home to reunite with his family during the Christmas truce but enemy bullets claimed his life,” Cabunoc said.
Aside from the ambush in Mabini, the military also blamed the NPA for atrocities in Panabo, Davao City, where it abducted Provincial Jail Warden Marvin Coquilla, and in Camarines Norte where it burned privately owned heavy equipment.
Cabunoc said Bautista and the other soldiers belonged to the Philippine Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion. They had just come down from the hinterlands of Mabini for their New Year’s break.
Cabunoc said Bautista called his mother, Chona, to say he was on his way to their family reunion, with gifts for his parents and seven siblings.
Cabunoc said the officer’s father, Eulogio Bautista, was devastated upon hearing the news.
“We did not expect he will come home in a coffin,” said Bautista, who added that his son was the first PMA graduate from their hometown.
Ceasefire not observed
Cabunoc deplored the attack, pointing out the ambush was carried out while the military was observing a ceasefire in celebration of the Yuletide and the coming visit of Pope Francis.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines strongly condemns the series of atrocities committed by the New People’s Army during the period of government-declared SOMO (suspension of military operations),” Cabunoc said.
The AFP declared a unilateral ceasefire from Dec. 18 to Jan. 19.
On the other hand, the Communist Party of the Philippines staggered its ceasefire on Dec. 24-26; Dec. 31-Jan. 1, and Jan. 15-19 during the Pope’s visit.
