‘NPA’ guerillas execute ex- barangay captain in Ifugao

By Kimberlie Quitasol

BAGUIO CITY — Suspected communist rebels killed a former barangay captain in Tinoc town in Ifugao province.

According to initial investigation of Tinoc municipal police, still unidentified men killed former Barangay Captain Joseph Calabson, 47 in front of his wife in his house in Barangay Tukucan in Tinoc town afternoon of March 2.

                Maya Calabson, the wife of the victim, told police officers that one of the suspects who was wearing eyeglasses shot her husband in the forehead first.

She said another suspect clad in all black fired at her husband several times even when he was already lying on the ground.

Investigation showed the victim was with his wife Maya as they visited the compound where their house was being constructed around 11 a.m. that day.

Maya told investigators her husband even greeted his assailants, with one of them introducing himself as Francis.

It was while they were talking to Calabso when the suspects put down their backpacks, pulled out their firearms and shot the victim in the forehead.

One of them even stood over a slumped Calabso and fired at him to make sure he was dead.

Maya said the suspects just walked away after shooting her husband, while leaving behind four copies of a letter from the Nona del Rosario Command of the NPA, which is operating in Ifugao.

The police added that the victim had earlier been tagged as a staunch government supporter, providing information against the rebels and even opening the doors to his home to soldiers at times.

Responding police officers recovered letter from the Nona del Rosario Command, New People’s Army Ifugao accusing the victim of providing vital information to the government and “harboring” Philippine Army soldiers in his house.

Diana Domingo, sister in law of the victim, told the police that one of the suspects pointed his gun at her forehead when they met her at the doorway on their way out.

Police officers also recovered cartridges, bullets, and a leather holster.

An earlier police report said the victim was rushed to the Lutheran Hospital in Buguias town in Benguet province but did not survive the attack.

The victim was laid to rest on March 4.

Meanwhile, an indignation rally for the killing coincided with the funeral attended by residents and officials of the village.

The NPA did not release a statement on the killing at press time.  -- nordis.net