NPA rebels kidnap, kill 2 village officials in Masbate

LEGAZPI CITY –– Two of four village officials abducted on Tuesday by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed, and two others manage to escape the carnage in Aroroy town in Masbate province, a police report said Wednesday.

Aniano Capinig, 62, village chief of Barangay Cabas-an, told police that after they were abducted around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the outskirts of the village, the rebels shot and killed Victorino Bravo III, 35, a village councilman, and Arnel Retanan, 34, a barangay tanod (village watchman). Both slain victims were reportedly former rebels.

Capinig said he and Alden Vargas, 32, also a village watchman, escaped while the two were being executed by the rebels.

The report said a group of rebels abducted the four officials around 5 a.m.

Police immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation to find the victims.

Twelve hours after the abduction, members of the police blocking force manning a checkpoint at Barangay Luy-a arrested Jeffrey Drio, 36, a resident of Barangay Ambolong.

During the search, the suspect yielded a loaded caliber .45 pistol, a bladed weapon, and two incendiary explosive materials.

Police investigators theorize that the suspect could be a member of the rebel group that abducted the village officials.

Police said alleged NPA rebels led by a certain “Ka Cris” and “Ka Aris” carried out the abduction of the four village officials.

LZB