Militiaman escapes communist rebels attack

A GOVERNMENT militia narrowly escaped death in an attack by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a remote village of Compostela Valley province, a military official said Tuesday.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, public affairs officer of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, said the would-be victim was identified as Willingtonn Ginabe, a resident of Amor Cruz village in Laak town.

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Garcia said Ginabe, a member of Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu), was tending his crops in Barangay Amor Cruz around 8 a.m. Monday when two NPAs armed with caliber .45 pistols shot him.

Garcia said the two missed their target as Ginabe ducked for cover and ran towards his residence and escaped the hail of bullets.

Ginabe’s wife reportedly saw the incident and said there were actually three assailants who fired at his husband.

The third one, she said, was armed with a long rifle and is 100 meters away from the other two.

Major General Carlos Holganza, chief of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, deplored the latest slay attempt on unarmed government militia, saying it was a confirmation of the ungodly nature of the NPA as an organization.

“We thank God for protecting Ginabe and may God always protect our troops who are at the forefront in the fight against threats to national development. This attempt on the life of one unarmed CAFGU shows the real color of the communists,” Holganza said.

He said the attack only shows the NPA rebels do not respect human rights and “they do not in any way respect people.” (Bong Garcia)