Rebels Shot Another CAFGU in Sipocot Town

SIPOCOT, CAMARINES SUR - - ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CITIZENS ARMED FORCES GEOGRAPHICAL UNIT (CAFGU) was shot dead by suspected communist rebels along the road side at Sitio Tractora, Bagong Sirang, Sipocot, Camarines Sur, the local police in this town reported last July 20.

Sipocot MPS, Police Sr. Insp. Noel Pauyo Aquino had reported that the victim was identified as Rodel Austria Baesa, 22 a resident of Barangay Lubigan Jr. and assigned at the 9^th Infantry Division, PA detachment at Barangay Samay, Ragay town.

A village councilor, Armando Pacia, found the young CAFGU lying dead on the road with gunshot wounds on his left eye and chest.

Police investigators found at the crime scene two empty shells for Cal. 45 pistol; the body of the victim was later brought by the police at the Salles Funeral Parlor in the said locality.

Intel sources at the Ragay MPS had reported that rebel assassins have step-up their attacks on CAFGU members, after the Philippine Army had boosted the recruitment of CAFGUs deploying them in rural detachments in Camarines Sur.

Sources also said that Baesa was a resident of Lubigan Jr, where rebels have recently targeted CAFGU members, after a raid last May 19 in which CAFGUs under Army Corporal Aurelio Alcala were overran by rebels in a detachment; the NPAs carted away, Carbine, Garand and M-16 rifles in the said raid. (SONNY SALES)