‘NPA hit squad leader’ shot dead by soldiers in Davao del Norte

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte – The military said it killed an alleged leader of a communist hit squad blamed for the murder of government troops and civilians, during a brief clash in San Fernando, Bukidnon, on Tuesday.

Capt. Bob Tamula, spokesperson for the Philippine Army’s 68th Infantry Battalion based in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, said a rebel, identified as Bugsong, was shot dead by soldiers as he attempted to assassinate one of the troops in Purok (Community) 9, Kalagangan village around 10:30 a.m.

A peace and development team from 68th IB’s Bravo Company was in the area when two motorcycles with four people onboard passed by, and one of those onboard fired at the soldiers using a handgun, prompting them to retaliate, said Tamula.

“One of the suspects identified later as alias Bugsong was hit and he fell to the ground while his companions fled,” the Army official told Philippine Daily Inquirer by mobile phone.

Tamula said Bugsong was the leader of Special Partisan Unit (SPARU), a hit squad of Guerrilla Front 55 of the New People’s Army Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC), which operated in the hinterlands of Bukidnon and Davao del Norte provinces.

No one from the government side was hurt, the Army official said. He said the group has been tagged as behind the killing of a number of soldiers, militiamen and even civilians in San Fernando and Talaingod areas.

Tamula said the body of the slain rebel was handed over to the local government of San Fernando for burial.  SFM