Pastor shot dead in church

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 9): Pastor shot dead in church

The killing of A World of Life Church pastor inside a church Tuesday by six suspected New People's Army rebels in Brgy. Calupaan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, was condemned by members of the church, barangay residents and the military yesterday.

The victim, Leonardo Bacolod, was reportedly mistaken for a military informant, 1Lt. Von Ryan Gomez, 11 th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations officer, said.

Bacolod succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, after he was shot by six armed men using high-powered firearms, military records showed.

Empty shells of AK-47, M-14 and M-16 assault rifles were recovered at the scene.

Gomez said Bacolod was about to officiate at a regular worship service, when he was shot.

Lt. Col. Wilfredo Isaac, 11 th Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday condemned what he called an “inhuman act” of the NPA, who murdered the victim inside a church.

“ This only shows that the sustained military operations in the Negros Island have made the NPAs desperate to get back at the government," Isaac added.

Gomez said Calupaan barangay captain Joseph Cabugnason will lead an indignation rally today in the place, to be participated in by residents and parishioners of the World of Life Church, to condemn the brutal killing of Bacolod.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/August/09/negor2.htm