Navy soldier killed in rebel attack

MANILA, Philippines — A Navy soldier set to retire next year has been killed in an attack by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Pio Duran, Albay.

The Philippine Navy denounced the murder of Senior Chief Petty Officer Jesus Saavedra, 55, who was shot dead in Barangay Binodegahan on Friday.

Reports said six gunmen believed to be members of the NPA’s special partisan unit shot the victim who had just been to a market.

Saavedra suffered four gunshot wounds in the body, according to Ensign Estella Jane Sasil, chief of the public affairs office of the Naval Forces of Southern Luzon.