Killed in the attack on the house of Rudy Morallos in Barangay Cagamutan del Norte, 15 kilometers from the Gamay town proper, were Restituta Percenio and her son Rocky, whose house was about 10 meters from Morallos’.
In Tarlac, meanwhile, communist rebels gunned down SPO1 Jose Fronda, 45, an intelligence officer of the 312th Police Mobile Group, one of two police counter-insurgency units in the province.
Fronda’s killing came barely a month after the NPA assassinated the 312th PMG’s commanding officer, Chief Inspector Arturo Pabustan.
Reports said Fronda was planting rice in his farm in Barangay Caanamongan, Sta. Ignacia town, when he was shot dead.
Superintendent Mario San Diego, Tarlac police director, said they are holding the NPA’s Nelson Mesina Command responsible for Fronda’s slaying.
Chief Superintendent Nardito Yoro, Eastern Visayas police director, said the rebels who fired at Morallos’ house were led by one Commander Lawin.
Morallos, 42, whom the NPA has marked for liquidation, escaped unhurt.
Yoro said police units, especially in remote municipalities, have been ordered to beef up their intelligence gathering to counter NPA threats.
Yoro has placed the entire regional command on red alert due to possible rebel attacks in line with the founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Dec. 26. — With Benjie Villa