6 killed by suspected Reds in CamSur

MANILA, Philippines –  Six people died when a business­man and his son shot it out with communist guerrillas trying to extort hundreds of dollars from them, the military said yesterday.

Coconut meat trader Federico Bico, 56, a son, and two bodyguards were killed after engaging seven New People’s Army gunmen who arrived on their farm demanding money, local military spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc said.

The bloody incident happened on Friday night near the town of Libmanan, 250 kms. southeast of Manila.

“Bico owns a big coconut meat business. Last year the NPA demanded P30,000 in revolutionary taxes but he refused and hired bodyguards,” Cabunoc said.

Government forces summoned to the farm discovered the bodies of two of the suspected attackers nearby, both with fatal gunshot wounds, he said. Coconut meat is a key Filipino farm export used to manufacture vegetable oil.

The attack occurred ahead of formal peace talks scheduled in Norway on Feb. 15.

Cabunoc said among the possible suspects are members of the New People’s Army (NPA), who reportedly demanded money from the victims.

“According to relatives of the victims, Bico received extortion demand from the NPA last year but he refused to cooperate with the rebels,” he said in a text message.

Cabunoc said military investigators had received reports that some communist rebels have resorted to robbery due to the supposed decline in their support base.

He noted that the NPA staged a robbery hold-up in Guinobatan, Albay last year against employees of a company that refused to pay the so-called revolutionary tax. One person died and another one was wounded during the incident, which involved employees of construction firm Sunwest Corp.