Sugar planter, driver killed in ambush

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A sugar planter and his driver on Wednesday died in an ambush staged by about 15 New People’s Army guerillas at Purok Greenhills in Barangay Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

Killed on the spot were Norberto “Bebe” Lumayno, a sugar planter, and his driver, Danilo Braga, 45.

Initial police investigations showed that the victims were on board an Isuzu D-Max vehicle, when they were ambushed by the armed suspects, who were positioned inside a sugarcane field. Both victims succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

Recovered from the crime scene were empty shells of M16, M14 and AK 47 assault rifles, and an unexploded M203 grenade launcher ammunition.

The ambush incident was believed to be triggered by a land dispute, according to the police.

Witnesses said the armed suspects were reported to have been staying in the sugarcane field for two days, as indicated by the empty sardines and other foodstuffs recovered inside the sugarcane field.

Captain Eduardo Precioso, 303rd Infantry Brigade spokesman, yesterday said the assailants were believed to be members of the NPA, who after fleeing from the ambush site clashed with the pursuing soldiers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion in Cambayobo, Calatrava.

Precioso said the firefight lasted for about 15 minutes, and the fleeing rebels left behind a .45-caliber pistol, a hand grenade, assorted medical accessories, and two NPA flags, among other personal belongings. But no casualty was reported as of this time, as pursuit operations were still in progress.

The two-insurgency related incidents in Negros took place two days after the NPA also raided a police station in Maasin town of Iloilo. (FREEMAN)