NPA rebels kill cop, wound fire chief

LIAN, Batangas — At least six suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas shot dead a policeman and critically wounded this town’s fire chief while they were talking near the fire station here last Wednesday evening, police said.

Superintendent Francisco Don Montenegro, Batangas police director, identified the slain lawman as SPO2 Buenaventura Masikat, and the wounded fire chief as SFO3 Arnaldo De la Cruz.

Reports said Masikat and De la Cruz were chatting in front of a sari-sari store near the fire station along JP Rizal street in Barangay Poblacion when three men approached them from behind and shot Masikat twice in the head.

De la Cruz pulled out his caliber .45 service pistol, but he, too, was shot once in the abdomen. He is now being treated at the De La Salle Hospital in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Three other men served as lookouts and escaped on foot after the incident.

Chief Inspector Dante Novicio, Lian police chief, said the attack was executed NPA-style.

"Didikitan nila ng malapitan ang biktima bago nila bibirahin (They would get near their prey before they make a hit)," he said.

Novicio said the attack was similar to the way Army Cpl. Domingo Bartolome was slain last Dec. 23 while he was buying food supplies for his men in this town’s public market.

Domingo was the detachment commander of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Barangay San Diego. He belonged to the Charlie Company of the Army’s 59th Infantry Battalion.

Asked why the rebels could have targeted Masikat, Novicio said they were still investigating the matter.

The rebels carted away the caliber .45 service pistols of Masikat and De la Cruz.

The STAR tried to reach NPA spokesman Rogelio Rosal to confirm if NPA hit men were, indeed, behind the attack, but failed.