2 ex-rebels killed in Albay

Pio Duran town, Albay (Wikipedia maps)

LEGAZPI CITY — Two persons whom police identified as former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were shot dead by armed men believed to be their former comrades in Pio Duran town in Albay province Monday morning.

Chief Inspector Ignacio Suarilla III, acting chief of Pio Duran police, said Salvacion de Luna, 40, employee of the Municipal Treasurer’s Office of Pio Duran, and her live-in partner, Bernal Nogot, 50, a “habal-habal” driver, were shot by armed men believed to be members of NPA while on board a motorcycle in Sitio (sub-village) Cagnalog in Barangay La Medalla at around 7:45 a.m.

Suarilla said the victims, both residents of Barangay (village) Maonon, Ligao City, were on their way to De Luna’s office when they were attacked.

Chief Inspector Arthur Gomez, Albay police spokesperson, said the victims were known to police as former rebels. However, he did not specify when the two left the organization.  SFM/rga