NPA terrorists murdered 1 soldier, wounded another

By Cpt MARIO JOSE M. CHICO, (QMS) PA
March 14, 2007

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  –  NPA Terrorists operating in Northern Samar under CPP-NPA-NDF EV leader Fr. Santiago Salas brutally murdered Sgt Jose D. Baccol of 52IB at about 3 pm, March 11, 2007 at Poblacion, Las Navas town in Northern Samar.

The victim was treacherously shot to death by three NPA terrorists using Cal .45 pistols. He was attending to his newly-harvested riceland at Brgy Bugay of Las Navas, Northern Samar when he was murdered.

This butchery is a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) since during the time of the murder, the victim was unarmed, hence at that time he was a hors de combat or considered as non-combatant based on the existing Laws on Armed Conflict and therefore should not be subjected to armed offensive.

This killing is but only a few on the long list of blatant violation of IHL perpetrated by the communist terrorist operating in the region. It can be recalled that last month, CAFGU Active Auxiliary Armando Liwanag was treacherously murdered right in front of his family at Brgy. Sta. Fe of Catubig town in Northern Samar.

At about 2:45 pm of the same day, another soldier and his wife nearly escaped death from the hands of the NPA hitmen. Cpl Dulpiano Orot was with his wife walking their way to their residence at River bank of Poblacion, Las Navas town when 3 NPA hitmen armed with Cal .45 pistols without warning opened fire at them hitting him in the left thigh. He was brought to Catubig Hospital for medical treatment.

The latest killing brings to 12 victims of CPP-NPA-NDF atrocities since January this year in Samar Island alone. The most prominent of which are the murders of Mayor Benito Astorga of Daram, Augusto ‘Ka Agoy’ Daclitan of ANAD in Catbalogan, and Brgy Cpt Bedasto Gabiana of Brgy Dogongan, Jiabong. This does not include those killings that were not reported to the authorities.