Cops pursue NPA rebs who killed 3 vendors in Masbate
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Tuesday ordered a massive pursuit operation against a group of New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas who snatched and killed three members of a family in Palanas, Masbate.
The top cop instructed Police Regional Office 5 director, Brigadier Gen. Jonnel C. Masbate to launch a thorough manhunt against the rebels who were believed to have seized and killed the victims, all local vendors whom they accused of being military informants.
“I have directed the local police to conduct manhunt operations against these NPA rebels who committed this atrocity. Hindi tayo titigil hangga’t hindi natin naaaresto itong mga rebeldeng NPA na walang-awang pumatay sa mga inosenteng sibilyan,” Gen. Eleazar said.
“Patunay ang pag-atake nila sa mga inosenteng sibilyan na wala na talagang prinsipyo o idelohiyang pinanghahawakan ang mga rebeldeng komunista,” he stressed.
The victims identified as Jose Lalaguna, 51; and his sons Joey, 30; and Jestoni,22, were riding their motorcycles in Bgy. Miabas, Palanas when they were flagged down at gunpoint by some 20-heavily armed men around 7:30 a.m. last Saturday.
Reports said the suspects dragged the victims to a secluded place where they were killed. The victims’ two other companions were able to escape and tell authorities about what happened.
All were selling mirrors, floormats and speakers in the area.
The Armed Forces condemned the incident as a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law and RA 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.
Gen. Eleazar said the police would work closely with the military to make sure that the communist rebels are arrested and brought to justice.
“We will closely coordinate our manhunt operations with the military and intensify our presence in the area to ensure the safety of other innocent civilians that the communist rebels may target for attacks,” he said.
The PNP chief also urged residents to immediately report to authorities if they have information on the presence of NPA rebels in their community to enable government security forces to thwart possible attacks.
