NPA Bicol spokesman among those killed in Sorsogon clash Thursday

LEGAZPI CITY — The spokesman of the National Democratic Front (NDF)-Bicol was among the eight rebels killed Thursday in an encounter in a hinterland village in Juban, Sorsogon, a statement from the Celso Minguez Command of the New People’s Army confirmed Saturday.

Samuel Guerrero, Celso Minguez Command spokesman, in a press statement obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said Greg Bañares was among the eight rebels killed in the early Thursday morning clash in Barangay (village) Upper Calmayon, Juban.

Guerrero  said aside from  Bañares whose real name was Frankie Joe Soriano, a native of Camarines Sur, the other slain rebels were Pehing Hipa, alias Ka Miloy; Christine Puche, aka Ka Nel; Ted Palacio aka Ka Gary; David Llunar aka Ka Rey; Romero Añonuevo aka Ka Nene, William Villanueva Jr. aka Ka Jay; and Ailyn Calma aka Ka Kevin–all members of the communist guerrilla front operating in Sorsogon.

The Celso Minguez Command condemned the attack as a “treachery” as Guerrero claimed Palacio and Puche were unarmed and were fleeing the scene when soldiers fired at them.

Guerrero said government troops even fired at the communist rebels as “finishing touches” to ensure they were dead.

The Celso Minguez Command declared Ka Greg Bañares as a “people’s martyr,” along with his slain comrades.