By Pearl Gumapos
Right after the anti-personnel mine (APM) detonated, the Absalon cousins Keith and Nolven were shot dead by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Masbate on June 6, Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr.
“I just came from Masbate last Saturday, and I was able to visit and talk to the family members of the Absalons. So yes, it was confirmed that Keith, according to his companions, was killed not only because of the blast, the anti-personnel mine, but because of the assault,” Parlade said on “Tagged: Debunking Lies by Telling the Truth”, a virtual press conference held by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on June 14.
Parlade noted that this confirmation was based on the narration of four other survivors who were lagging behind and witnessed firsthand the brutal attack against Keith and Nolven.
“Iyong apat, nahuli sa likod, kaya they were able to witness what was happening in front of them. So si Keith humingi na ng tawad sa NPA para hindi na siya patayin, pero tinuluyan siya, kaya may tama siya sa mata,” Parlade said.
“Whereas Nolven was actually nakadapa na siya, but tinataas niya iyong kanyang kamay. Pero tinuluyan siya ng NPA so may tatlong tama siya ng bala sa likod,” he added.
Parlade said the deaths are still unacceptable to the families of the victims, and that the NPAs who attacked and killed the cousins are still being sheltered by members of the communities of Barangays Anas and Bolo, thus the relentless police and military operations in the area. – jlo
