Sugar planter, driver killed in Negros Occ ambush by NPA

Calatrava, Negros Occidental (Wikipedia maps)

BACOLOD CITY — A sugar planter and his driver were killed on Thursday in an ambush staged allegedly by communist rebels at Purok Greenhills in Barangay Minapasok, Calatrava town in Negros Occidental, about 70 kilometers from here.

Norberto “Bebe” Lumayno, a sugar planter, and his driver, Danilo Braga, 45, were killed on the spot,  police said.

Lumayno was on board an Isuzu Dmax pickup driven by Braga to inspect his sugarcane fields in Purok Greenhills when they were ambushed 6:50 a.m. by New People’s Army rebels  positioned in the sugarcane field.

Both victims died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Recovered from the crime scene were assorted empty shells of M16, M14 and AK 47 assault rifles and an unexploded M203 grenade launcher ammunition.

Police said the ambush might have been triggered by a land dispute.

Witnesses said the armed rebels had been staying in the sugarcane field for two days, apparently to wait for Lumayno to pass by.

Police found empty sardine cans and foodstuff in the area where the rebels hid.

Capt. Eduardo Precioso, 303rd Infantry Brigade spokesman, said soldiers belonging to the 62nd Infantry Battalion chanced upon the fleeing rebels in Barangay Cambayobo, Calatrava.

Precioso said that after a 15-minute firefight, the rebels fled and left behind a .45-pistol, a hand grenade, assorted medical accessories, two NPA flags, among other personal belongings.  SFM/rga