CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 4, 2014) – Communist rebels killed a government militia and wounding his wife and nephew in an ambush in the southern Philippines, officials said Friday.
Maj. Christian Uy, a spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division, said the trio was travelling on a motorcycle when New People’s Army rebels attacked them in the village of San Mateo in Butuan City late Wednesday.
The ambush killed Eddie Toda, who was assigned with the 6th Agusan del Norte CAFGU Active Auxiliary, and wounded Susan Toda and Giovanni Balbosina.
Uy said the rebels fled after the ambush. “CAA Toda was unarmed and off-duty and travelling with his wife and nephew, who are both civilians, when NPA rebels ambushed them,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
He said the militiaman died from multiple gunshot wounds in the body.
Lt. Col. Adonis Orio, commander of the 29th Infantry Battalion, has condemned the attack and branded the ambush as a “cowardly act.”
“The attack on CAA Toda was an act of cowardice on the part of the NPA. He was in civilian attire and was clearly unarmed when he was ambushed. What will happen to his family now that their father is already dead? And so I urge the peace loving people of Butuan City and Caraga to condemn those who use threat and intimidation against the people especially these NPAs. Let us give peace a chance,” Orio said.
Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, the army division commander, has urged the Commission on Human Rights and the human rights group Karapatan and other allied organizations to investigate the murder of Toda, saying the NPA must pay for its crimes.
He also condemned Toda’s killing. “We strongly condemn the brutality and inhumane atrocities of the NPAs who are killing helpless civilians. Again, we will file charges against the perpetrators of the said ambush. We also urge the Commission on Human Rights, Karapatan and other human rights advocacy groups to investigate this matter. These NPAs must be punished for the crimes they committed and must be condemned by the whole nation,” Visaya said.
“For the family of CAA Toda and Giovanni, who are currently grieving for the loss of their father and son, we are saddened for your loss. We will ensure that the necessary support will be provided as soon as possible. This is how we care for the families of our fallen comrades and civilians,” he added. (Mindanao Examiner)
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