THREE vendors were killed by alleged members of the New People’s Army in Masbate, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.
Those killed were Jose Lalaguna, 51; Joey Lalaguna, 30; and Jestoni Lalaguna, 22.
Eleazar said two witnesses related that they and the victims were traveling on their motorcycles in Palanas, Masbate on August 14, when they were flagged down by at least 20 suspected NPA rebels.
The two witnesses were able to escape while the victims were dragged by the suspects to a secluded area, where they were killed.
The military said the incident is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Republic Act 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.
Eleazar said the police will work closely with the military to make sure that the communist rebels are arrested and brought to justice.
“We will closely coordinate our manhunt operations with the military and intensify our presence in the area to ensure the safety of other innocent civilians that the communist rebels may target for attacks,” he said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)