Pastor dies in latest Abra shooting; 2 rebs surrender

By MIKE GUIMBATAN AND DEXTER SEE

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Post-election violence continues to hound Abra despite pronouncement of the police and the newly elected officials to put an end to the senseless killings.

The latest victim was a missionary pastor in Tineg, a remote town in Abra.

Reports reaching the office of Chief Supt. Raul Gonzales identified the victim as Sagmayap Meaog y Selong, 40, single, native of Makingag Lanec, Tineg, and pastor of Jesus Christ Mission International Inc.

Police said the shooting took place at about 9:45 a.m. on June 29 in Barangay Sta Rosa, Bangued, Abra.

Initial investigation conducted by Bangued police station showed the victim was last seen with an unidentified companion walking towards a corn field when residents heard gunfire.

The victim suffered bullet wounds in his head that caused his immediate death.

A team of investigators from the Abra provincial police office found at the crime scene two spent shells of bullets fired from unknown caliber.

No motive in the killing was immediately established but probers were looking into the personal grudge angle.

Meanwhile, two suspected members of the New People’s Army operating in Abra and the Ilocos Region surrendered to police and military operatives at about 2 p.m. last June 29 in Plarident, Bulacan.

Chief Supt. Leopoldo N Bataoil, Region 1 police director, said the surrender came as a good result of the government’s “Bring home a comrade” program.

Bataoil identified the surrenderees as Samuel Tiw-ak Compalas, alias “Ka Savar,” who is listed No. 9 in the military’s order of battle; and Dominador Bangisan Angdos.

They were members of a group under Emmanuel Amolot, Alias “Renato Amolot,” under the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla Sandino, which is operating in the second district of Ilocos Sur and Abra.

Ka Salvar was charged in court for murder docketed as Criminal Case N o. 1978-C heard at the sala of Judge Gabino Balbin of Regional trial Court’s Branch 23 in Candon City , Ilocos Sur.

Bataoil said Ka Salvar was one of the suspects in the killing of SPO3 Victorino Jallorina.

He added the two surrendered to elements of NISG in Northern Luzon , Police regional Intelligence Division, Regional Mobile Group 1, Regional Intelligence Office 1, and Military Intelligence Group 1.