NPA slay of cop, police asset hit

Bacolod City, Philippines – The military has condemned the killing by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels of a policeman and a former Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit member in Escalante City on Monday night.

“The killing by the NPA is the worst form of tactical offensive. It was done with treachery and goes to show how heartless they are,” Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said in a statement Tuesday.

Mabanta said three members of an eight-man NPA team shot dead PO1 Bejein Tanguan, 25, of the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion, and Joseph Lutrago, 38, a police asset, in front of the public market in Escalante City.