Army intel officer shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected communist rebels gunned down an intelligence officer in Bukidnon on Sunday, the military reported yesterday.

Andrew Dayata, an Army intelligence operative of the 23rd Infantry Battalion, was on a motorcycle with his wife, Jocelyn, when the suspects on two motorcycles opened fire in the vicinity of Purok 1-B, Dangcalan town.

Dayata, who suffered gunshot wounds in the head, died while being transported to the Kibawe Provincial Hospital. His wife was unharmed.

Intelligence reports show that the New People’s Army (NPA) has deployed its newly trained liquidation units in Bukidnon and nearby provinces.

The NPA earlier owned up to the killing of Councilor Cecilio Abuhan of Opol, Misamis Oriental. Suspected communist rebels were also believed to be behind the ambush of Impasug-ong Mayor Mario Okinlay on July 2.