Retired cop killed by suspected Reds in Kalinga; 188 NPAs surrender in 1st 3 wks. of January

A retired police officer has been killed by suspected members of the New People’s Army in Tabuk, Kalinga, a military official said Wednesday.

Lieutenant Colonel Isagani Nato, Northern Luzon Command spokesperson, said victim Johnny Adaol was shot to death by two alleged members of the NPA hit squad.

He said the incident happened at 10:50 a.m., January 23, at Sitio Luyucan, Brgy. Lacnog, Tabuk, Kalinga while the victim was cleaning his project site.

He said the perpetrators immediately left the area after the killing.

Recovered from scene of the crime were four spent shells and two slugs of caliber .45 pistol.

Nato said all military units at the Nolcom were alerted and instructed to intensify security operations and monitor NPA terrorist plans.

He said this would prevent the communist group from executing hostile actions against soft targets, including the business sector and vital installations prone for sabotage.

Reds surrender

Meanwhile, a total of 188 NPA members have surrendered to government forces in the first three weeks of January, the said Wednesday.

A press statement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines said President Rodrigo Duterte met with rebel returnees Nilo Legaspi, former regional spokesman of the NPA in the south, and his wife Wendy in Davao City on January 20.

It said the President gave the couple a housing unit and financial assistance. Cellphones were also given and the President asked the former rebel leaders to communicate the efforts of the government to their former comrades.

A day later, the AFP received 52 former rebels who surrendered in the provinces of Masbate and Sultan Kudarat. These included seven NPA regulars and 35 members of Militia ng Bayan who turned themselves to the joint elements of 2nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and Masbate Police Station in Masbate City. The group surrendered 13 firearms.

In Sultan Kudarat, 10 surrendered and yielded eight firearms.

Other surrenderers were facilitated in the provinces of Albay, Compostela Valley, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Sarangani, Kalinga, Surigao del Sur and Davao City. — MDM, GMA News