Army officer gunned down

ORANI, Bataan — Six suspected members of the New Peoples’ Army operating in northern Bataan killed an Army intelligence officer while on his way home in the upland village of Pag-asa, this town, on Sunday morning.

Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, Bataan police deputy director for operations, identified the victim as Sergeant Dominador Bruno of the 24th Army Infantry Battalion based in Bgy. Camacho, Balanga City.

Gunnacao told The STAR that the victim reported to the Army camp in Bgy. Camacho for an urgent meeting at about 11 a.m. Two hours after, Camacho texted his wife to prepare lunch since he was on his way out of the Army Camp waiting for a jeepney bound for Orani town at Roman Superhighway.

The victim allegedly alighted from the intersection of Roman Superhighway and Bgy. Doña, Orani town and later on rode with three other passengers on a parked tricycle going to the upland village of Tala, where the victim’s family resides.

While the tricycle was slowly crossing a zigzag portion of the road, the suspected rebels came out of the cogonal area brandishing Armalite rifles and flagged down the tricycle driven by Eric Tolentino.

The victim tried to flee but the rebels gunned him down. Three other passengers were reportedly ordered by the killers to stay calm since they claimed to be members of the NPA and the victim was an intelligence officer.

The rebels shot the fallen soldier at close range in the head causing his instantaneous death.

Recovered from the crime scene were 25 empty shells of a M-16 Armalite and a shattered Nokia 3315 cellphone owned by the victim.

Police and Army teams are in hot pursuit of the suspects who reportedly went to the thickly forested Tala mountain. — Raffy Viray