Army officer gunned down in Sorsogon

LEGAZPI CITY – A New People’s Army hit man shot dead an Army captain while conducting surveillance inside a cockpit in Irosin town in Sorsogon Monday evening, police said.

Senior Superintendent Joel Regondola, Sorsogon police director, identified the victim as Captain Patrick Baeza, 34, assigned as an intelligence officer at the 901st Infantry Brigade based in Barangay Villahermosa in Daraga town, Albay.

Baeza is a resident of Barangay San Pedro in Irosin town and a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, Class 95.

Report said that the victim was conducting follow-up operations inside the cockpit while a derby was going on in Barangay San Isidro about 500 meters from the town proper at about 7:45 p.m. Monday.

But while inside, an NPA assassin suddenly fired a cal. 45 pistol point blank at the back of the head of the Army captain, killing him on the spot.

The shooting incident forced some of the derby aficionados to drop to the ground and scamper outside for safety.

"Parang na-surveillance siya ng kalaban kasi tagaroon siya. (The rebels in the area know him already because he comes from the place)," said Col. Roberto Morales, deputy brigade commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade.

Others theorized that Baeza prevailed upon his father not to give in to the extortion activities of the NPA operating in the barangay where his family lives.

The body was brought to the Irosin District Hospital for autopsy.