TACLOBAN CITY––Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan has condemned the killing by the New People’s Army (NPA) of a soldier and two members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) in his province.
“We strongly denounce this brutality by communist-terrorists who resort to the killing of civilians who are only trying to help the government achieve genuine and lasting peace in their respective areas and the whole country,” said Ongchuan in a statement.
“Our soldiers and law enforcers will hunt down these perpetrators and hold them accountable for their actions to give justice to the victims,” he added.
He said he ordered the provision of financial assistance to Cpl. Jason Avestruz and Cafgu members, Lito Dauba Arcito Reyes, who were killed in separate encounters on Aug. 21.
Avestruz was killed in an encounter with the rebels in Barangay Palanit, San Isidro, while the militiamen were slain in a separate incident in Barangay Happy Valley, in the same town.