Off-duty CAFGU shot dead by NPA

From the Catanduanes Tribune (Jan 10): Off-duty CAFGU shot dead by NPA

A member of the Civilian Armed Auxiliary (CAA) company of the Philippine Army in Catanduanes was shot dead by the New People’s Army while working off-duty as an abaca stripper in San Miguel town last Jan. 3.

The 83rd Infantry Battalion based at Lictin, San Andres identified the victim as Dominic Samonte, 23, single and a resident of Obi, Caramoran who was assigned at the Iyao detachment of the 22nd Infantry Battalion’s “E” Company.

During the periodic 15-day break from his duties at Iyao, Samonte was making a living by stripping abaca fiber at the Lundayog farm in sitio Tucao, barangay Juan M. Alberto, San Miguel when he was forcibly taken by an undetermined number of communist guerrillas under Ka James at 11 A.M. and shot in the head and the different parts of his body.

Catanduanes PNP provincial director Senior Superintendent Eduardo Chavez said that barangay officials brought the body to the San Miguel police station. It was later transported to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center for post-mortem examination.

The Army disclosed that intelligence operatives organized two sections for possible deployment for combat operations. The headquarters likewise coordinated with the company commanding officer to facilitate the burial of the militiaman and the release of benefits to his family.

A reliable source told a slightly different story to the Tribune and claimed that Samonte had a common-law wife in Kuripdas (as the village is commonly referred to), with whom he had quarrelled at Iyao prior to the incident. The woman allegedly went back to her family and Samonte followed to try to win her back.

However, the source alleged, someone in the woman’s family had links to the NPA and probably tipped them off. The communist rebels were waiting by the time Samonte arrived and shot him 13 times.

Meanwhile, a day after the CAFGU’s killing, government troops unearthed a cache of improvised explosive devices buried in barangay Hicming, Virac.

Responding to a report regarding buried or planted IEDs at Purok 1 of the village, soldiers from “B” and “C” companies of the 83rd IB led by 1Lt. Clavel proceeded to the site and recovered two IEDs weighing more or less five kilos.

The team extracted the devices, often used by the NPA to ambush passing Army and police vehicles, and handled them with care to avoid accidental explosion.

The team later conducted an information drive in the barangay to enlighten residents regarding the planting of the explosives by the communist guerrillas, which could have led to loss of lives and damage to property.

http://www.catanduanestribune.com/article/3LW5