NPA rebels kill 1, injure 2 CAFGUs in Antique

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 24, 2021): NPA rebels kill 1, injure 2 CAFGUs in Antique (By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay)

NPA ATTACK. A member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary was killed while two others were wounded when fired upon by some five members of the New People's Army in Barangay Igbucagay, Hamtic, Antique on Friday (Sept. 24, 2021). Captain Kim Apitong, officer-in-charge of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) Public Affairs Office, said the three were conducting a security patrol in the area when shot by the rebels. (Photo courtesy of DPAO Philippine Army 3rd ID)

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – A member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) was killed while two others were wounded in an attack by New People's Army rebels in Barangay Igbucagay in Hamtic town, Antique around 7 a.m. on Friday.

“The CAFGUs, who were assigned at Igbucagay Patrol Base, were conducting security patrol when the incident happened,” said Captain Kim Apitong, officer-in-charge of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) Public Affairs Office, in a virtual press conference.

He said the three CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) personnel were some 80 meters away from the detachment when five rebels opened fire at them.

Apitong said they could not yet divulge the name and whereabouts of the CAA personnel because they are still in the process of contacting their families.

“We are assuring the families of these CAFGUs that we are taking good care of them,” he said.

In a separate interview, Hamtic Municipal Police Station (MPS) chief of police, Major Rex Farren, said the dead CAA personnel suffered bullet wounds on his right and left chest while the two others sustained gunshot wounds on their left leg and left arm.

They were shot by the NPAs situated around 100 meters away from the communal water system where the victims were standing.

Investigators recovered eight empty shells of the M16 Armalite rifle and three empty shells of M14.

The cadaver of the CAFGU was brought to the Butiong Funeral Homes in Sibalom town awaiting autopsy while the wounded were brought to the Antique provincial hospital for treatment.

The San Remigio municipal government, in an official statement, said they are saddened by the death of the CAFGU.

One of the two who were injured is from their municipality.

The municipality of San Remigio, together with the provincial government, vowed to do everything to help the affected families of the victims through any means of assistance and support.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1154587