NDF admits Bicol spokesman among Sorsogon casualties

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The long-time spokesman of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in the Bicol region was among the eight rebels killed in last Thursday morning’s encounter with Army soldiers in the remote village of Calomayon in Juban, Sorsogon, the local New People’s Army (NPA) unit admitted yesterday in a statement.

The NPA’s Celso Minguez Command said NDF spokesman Greg Bañares, Frankie Joe Soriano in real life, was slain along with Ka Nel (Christine Puche), said to be his wife; Ka Miloy (Pehing Hipa), Ka Gary (Ted Palacio), Ka Rey (David Llunar), Ka Nene (Romero Añonuevo), Ka Jay (William Villanueva Jr.), and Ka Kevin (Ailyn Calma).

The list did not include Arnel Estiller, commanding officer and secretary of the NPA’s Larangan 2 in Sorsogon, who the military earlier said was among those killed in the clash.

Military officials, meanwhile, said Añonuevo was one of the NPA hit men behind the killings of former Alex Boncayao Brigade chief and left-wing labor leader Felimon Lagman in 2001, and former NPA chief Romulo Kintanar in 2003.

In its statement, the Celso Minguez Command claimed that men of the Army’s 31st Infantry Battalion shot Bañares, Palacio and Puche despite their being unarmed and although they were already fleeing from the site of the encounter.

But Col. Joselito Kakilala, commander of the Army’s 31st IB based in Sorsogon, said, “That is not true. In fact, Bañares and his men were heavily armed and were engaging our soldiers in fierce gun battle when they were neutralized.”

Kakilala, in a radio interview, said they do not have yet the necessary information that would confirm if Bañares was indeed one of the NPA casualties.

“We could not confirm yet if Ka Greg (was among those whose) bodies were recovered in the encounter site. All we know is one of them was a high-ranking rebel officer in Bicol,” he said.

Kakilala said he has requested Juban Mayor Antonio Alindogan to give a decent burial to the slain rebels if their relatives fail to claim their remains.

“Right now their bodies are at a funeral parlor in Juban. And we are expecting that their relatives would claim them following their identification,” he said.

Bañares, also said to be NDF-Bicol’s secretary-general, was the highest-ranking rebel leader slain in an encounter with government troops since 2006.

On May 29, 2006, Bicol rebel leader Sotero Llamas was gunned down at close range by still unidentified attackers in Tabaco City.– With Celso Amo, Jaime Laude