MALAYBALAY CITY — An unarmed soldier was killed while an officer was injured when suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked them in Sitio Sto. Domingo, Barangay Lumintao, Quezon town in Bukidnon province on April 30.
1st Lt. Marisol Fulgosino, civil military operations officer of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division,, said Tuesday the NPA rebels attacked the victims at about 10 a.m.
Fulgosino identified the slain soldier as Pfc. Joehan Macalong. She, however, did not name the injured officer who has the rank of a second lieutenant.
The two, both members of the 88th Infantry Battalion (IB) Community Support Program Security Team, were deployed to the village to assist residents on a livelihood project when an undetermined number of NPA rebels swooped in and shot them. She said both victims were unarmed and were in civilian clothes.
The remains of the slain soldier were brought to a funeral facility while the wounded officer was brought to the nearest treatment facility for proper medical attention.
Lt. Col. Randy Remonte, commanding officer of the 88th Infantry Battalion, said he was dismayed by the fate of the two soldiers. He assured that justice will be served against the perpetrators.
In a statement, Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, denounced the NPA rebels for “their criminal acts of murdering a devoted soldier who only serves the residents of Bukidnon relentlessly to achieve a lasting peace.”
He said the attack was a “clear manifestation that NPA rebels were anti-development and resistant to progress.” (Mel B. Madera/PNA)
