NPA's Death Squad Kills a Militiaman in Sorsogon

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, CamSur Jan 21, 2011– An off-duty militiaman was shot and killed by suspected NPA rebels in Irosin town, Sorsogon yesterday, a military report said.

Marcelino Nanoz, 40, was walking outside his home in Sitio Sumagon(sub-village), Gulang-gulang village, when 3 armed men blocked his way and repeatedly shot him at around 11:00am (Jan 20).

Nanoz sustained multiple gunshot wounds all over his body, killing him instantly.

One relative who refused to be identified for fear of violent reprisal said he witnessed the killing. He said that three young men who appeared to be minors perpetrated the killing.

“One of the assailants looked like a 15-year old boy who was wearing basketball jerseys and slippers. The older man pulled the trigger while the two others watched alongside him,” he claimed.

Bystanders who were also near the scene said that the rebels targeted the militiaman who was accused as the military informant who led the troops towards  the location of the rebels some years ago.

“Kunin nyo na yang patay! Yan nagpasubo sa aming kasamahan dati,” they quoted the fleeing rebels as saying. The assailants were spotted heading towards neighboring Gabao village.

Sergeant Arnold Porcalla promptly proceeded to the crime scene together with elements of Irosin PNP. They brought the cadaver to a funeral parlor in Irosin town for medico-legal examination.

The killing of Nanoz is the first recorded extra-judicial killing by the NPA in 2011.

Sources from the intelligence community said that there is an indication that the assailants were newly recruited young members of the NPA’s Special Partisan Unit (SPARU).

Last year, 45 innocent people including 8 militiamen were killed by the bandit group around the Bicol Region. The local communist terrorists have claimed responsibility over most of the killings.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, the Commander of the 9^th Infantry Division, has condemned the bandit group for their senseless killings of people in the Bicol Region.

He immediately directed the 9^th ID’s legal officer to help the victims’ family to lodge a criminal complaint against the CPP-NPA-NDF.

“If these rebels are sincere in their calls for the peaceful resolution of this conflict, they must stop their policy of summary executions as this is a clear violation of human rights,” said Pabustan.