LUCENA CITY – A member of the government’s paramilitary group was shot dead by suspected New People’s rebels in Balatan town in Camarines Sur early on Thursday.
Major Angelo Guzman, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), said Jaime Rabino, a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu), was attending a fiesta dance party in his village, Barangay Sagrada, at around 1 a.m. when four armed men approached and shot him at close range.
Guzman said the victim died on the spot. After the shooting, the suspects fled on foot towards the mountainous area.
Guzman said Solcom was saddened by Rabino’s killing as Cafgu members, like soldiers, spend most of their time away from their families and only get to go home on certain occasions.
“This was the only time they have to spend with their families and loved ones after rendering service to the communities,” Guzman said in a statement.
He said Army soldiers were dispatched to track down the rebels.