2 civilians killed by rebels in Masbate, says military

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Two civilians were killed and policemen who responded were ambushed by suspected New People’s Army rebels Sunday afternoon in a village in Milagros town, Masbate, an Army official said Monday morning.

Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division, identified the fatalities as Eduardo Aldana, 48, and Allan Alarcon, 38, both of Barangay Cabitan in Mandaon town.

Guzman said the victims were on their way home on board a “habal-habal” (motorcycle taxi) when they were attacked by the suspected rebels with high-powered assault rifles in Barangay Espinosa at 3:40 p.m.

Aldana was killed on the spot while Alarcon, the habal-habal driver, who was rushed by responding villagers to De Castro Hospital in Milagros, was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The town’s policemen, who responded to investigate the incident, were on their way back to the municipal police office when they were ambushed by the rebels, Guzman said.

The policemen, however, were able to return fire causing the rebels to flee, leaving only damages to the police’s patrol car.

Lt. Col Julian Pacatan, commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion, deployed reinforcements to possible routes where the rebels could have fled.

Pursuit operations of the 49th IB and Philippine National Police-Masbate were still ongoing.

Pacatan said the attack on the civilians and subsequent ambush of reinforcing units were typical of the offensive strategy of the NPA as a way of retaliating for Tuesday’s arrest of Sofronio Narrido, a suspected tax collector of the communists in the area.

Narrido is detained at the Masbate Provincial Police Office.

Col. Felix Castro, Commanding Officer of 903rd Brigade based in Sorsogon, directed the 49th IB to coordinate with the Masbate police for further investigation on the incidents and for intensified security operations in Masbate.

Maj. Gen Josue Gaverza Jr., commanding general of the 9th Infantry Division, denounced the killing of the two civilians by the NPA rebels as he directed his brigade commanders to step up internal security operations against the communist guerillas.

Statistics by the military showed that in April, NPA rebel attacks have resulted in the death of four civilians, including an eight-year-old girl in Casiguran town in Sorsogon last April 3.