Communist spokesperson among dead in Sorsogon clash

LEGAZPI CITY—The spokesperson of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Bicol was among the eight rebels slain on Thursday in a clash with soldiers in a remote village of Juban town, Sorsogon province, a statement from the Celso Minguez Command of the New People’s Army confirmed on Saturday.

Samuel Guerrero, Celso Minguez Command spokesperson, in a press statement obtained by the Inquirer, said Greg Bañares, NDF-Bicol spokesperson, was among the eight rebels killed in the early Thursday morning clash in Barangay 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, aka Ka Miloy; Christine Puche, aka Ka Nel; Ted Palacio, aka Ka Gary; David Llunar, aka Ka Rey; Romero Anonuevo, 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 Palacio and Puche were unarmed and were fleeing the scene when soldiers fired at them.

Guerrero said soldiers even fired at fallen rebels to finish them off.

The Celso Minguez Command declared Bañares and the other slain rebels as “people’s martyrs.”