NPA owns killing of Isabela environment checkpoint exec

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela — The New People’s Army attacked and killed a member of Task Force: Kalikasan who was manning an anti-illegal logging checkpoint on Friday (July 5) at Sitio (subvillage) Laguis in Barangay Sindon Bayabo here.

In a statement, the NPA Reynaldo Piñon Command admitted staging the attack on Celso Asuncion, for his supposed ties with the Philippine Army as well as unlicensed loggers who transport timber from the Northern Sierra Madre mountain ranges.

Spokesman Vic Balligi said the attack was in retaliation for the reported demolition of Sindon Bayabo settlements, which have existed before the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park was classified as a protected area in 2001.

These houses lie in the buffer zone of the protected area, according to the government. (Editor: Leti Boniol)