Reds kill soldier, wound his 2 kids

Suspected communist guerrillas shot dead a soldier and wounded two of his children in Western Samar on New Year’s Eve despite a Christmas season ceasefire called by both sides, a military spokesman said.

Six gunmen burst into the home of Cpl. Alfredo Monacho, an intelligence officer, in Barangay Tominamos, Sta. Rita town last Wednesday and opened fire on him, killing him and wounding two of his children — Alfredo Jr., 25, and Rebecca, 23 — who tried to shield their father, Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero said.

Monacho was detailed with the Army’s 52nd Infantry Brigade based in Barangay San Eduardo, also in Sta. Rita town.

His son was shot in the chest, and his daughter in the thigh. Police found six empty caliber .45 shells in the scene.

The incident occurred despite unilateral ceasefires called by both the government and the New People’s Army (NPA) over the Christmas season.

"This is treachery and the NPA took advantage of the government Christmas ceasefire," Lucero said.

For his part, Maj. Gen. Glenn Rabonza, commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division, said, "These terroristic acts clearly demonstrate their disrespect for family values, human rights and dignity, disregarding the spirit of the holiday season and totally ignoring their declared truce."

The 9,000-member NPA, waging a 34-year Maoist guerrilla campaign, called a unilateral Christmas truce lasting from Dec. 20 to Jan. 4. The government’s ceasefire lasts until Jan. 6.

The Arroyo administration hopes to launch talks with the communists’ front organization, the National Democratic Front, this year, President Arroyo has said.

Meanwhile, in Placer, Surigao del Norte, an NPA leader and two of his men were arrested after villagers, fed up with their extortion activities, complained about them.

Eusebio Dumaguit, commanding officer of the Section Command 1 Front 16 under the Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Party Committee, and his men Ely Castro and Carlos Tulib were nabbed in their safehouse in Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Bad-as last Thursday.

Seized from them were a caliber .357 revolver, three handgrenades, P3,000 in cash and subversive documents. — AFP and Roel Pareño