Rebels rapped for kid's death

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The family of an eight-year-old girl has filed a case against three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels for her death during an attack on a barangay hall in Casiguran, Sorsogon last Sunday afternoon, the military said.

Lt. Col. Santiago Enginco, commanding officer of the Army’s 49th Infantry Batallion, said Fernando and Emerita Gubat filed charges against Jeffrey Benzon Jr., commander of Front Committee 79, Niño Hiluma and Gerry Corones, all belonging to the NPA’s Celso Minges Command.

The Gubats’ daughter Rose Ann, the second of the couple’s three daughters, was inside their home when she was hit by a stray M-16 bullet in the chest when some 10 rebels, positioned on a hill about 300 meters away, fired at the barangay center.