NPA rebels ambush civilian peace facilitators in Samar

MANILA, Philippines - A civilian peace facilitator working for a World Bank-funded anti-poverty alleviation in the country was seriously wounded in an ambush staged by suspected New People's Army rebels in Samar the other day, the military reported Tuesday.

Capt. Gene Orense, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division, said Harvey John Abelido of Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (Kalahi), is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital in San Jose de Buan town for a gunshot wound in his left chin.

Abelido and a fellow civilian peace facilitator Renato Dacaymat where on board a motorcycle when they were waylaid by suspected communist rebels in Sitio Manabo, Barangay Babaclayon. Dacaymat was unhurt.

The attack on Kalahi members was the second staged by the rebels this year. In August, the rebels abducted a Kalahi member in Barangay Hagbay.

The group is commissioned to implement World Bank-funded projects in far-flung and depressed communities in San Jose De Buan town. Jaime Laude