NPA attacks Army post in CamNorte; civilian killed

LEGAZPI CITY – Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked an Army detachment in Barangay (village) Alayao in Capalonga, Camarines Norte, on Tuesday, killing a civilian, the military said Wednesday.

Captain Madjorie Panesa, spokesperson of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division based in Camarines Sur, identified fatality as Mandy Retiro, 60, an employee of Capalonga College and a resident of Taft Ilawod, Barangay Bagong Bayan, Daet town.

Panesa said Retiro was at the detachment when the attack occurred. He was rushed to the Capalonga Medicare Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

She said an initial report showed that the rebels attacked at about 9 a.m. on Tuesday but they were repelled by soldiers after a five-minute firefight, Panesa added.

The Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion and the police in Capalonga have launched separate investigations on the incident, said Panesa.