A PASTOR was killed while two men were wounded when they were ambushed by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Wednesday, April 18, at Sico-sico Bridge, Barangay Lahi, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte.

Captain Al Anthony Pueblas, 402nd Infantry Brigade Civil military operations (CMO) officer, identified the victim as Jepti Acido, 32, resident of Tayaga, Claver, Surigao del Norte.

Those wounded are Virgil Flor Ortiz, 23, also from Barangay Tayaga, and Adner Malaque, 20, a resident of Barangay Villafranca, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte.

Pueblas said the incident was very unfortunate as he criticized the rebels for continuing to attack civilians despite the planned peace talks between the communists and the government.

Under the Part IV, Article IV item number 4 of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), the civilian populace shall be distinguished from combatants and, together with their property, shall not be the object of attack.

Brigadier General Franco Nemesio Gacal, commander of 402nd Infantry brigade, condemned the NPA's acts of terrorism which he said pose an even bigger threat to the civilian populace and to the economy of Surigao del Norte.

"Nevertheless, these attacks only fuel our utmost desire to protect our people from these thugs," Gacal said.

“In coordination with the PNP, we will hunt them down to bring justice to the victims and their families," he added. (Brisbane Q. Titular, Father Saturnino Urios University Intern)