One Dead and Two Wounded in the NPA's Knife Attack In Sorsogon

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – One man was killed while two were seriously wounded in an NPA knife attack on an off-duty soldier in Sorsogon at 11:00pm on September 24, 2010 (Friday), a military report said.

1st Lieutenant Ariel Annudin, Company commander of the 93rd Division Reconnaissance Company, said that 2 NPA rebels barged in the house of Private First Class Edmar Gaton in Bolo village, Matnog town and stabbed him with a bladed weapon.

Gaton and his family were already in deep slumber when they were awakened by the loud noise as the main door was forcibly opened by intruders. While coming out to check the situation, two knife-wielding persons emerged and started to stab him.

Parrying the knife blows, Gaton retreated back to his house where he was helped by his father, Eduardo. Using his skills in unarmed combat, Gaton was able to subdue his attacker and kill him.

“After killing his attacker, Gaton came to rescue his father who was already bleeding profusely due to his stab wounds. The second attacker was also wounded but managed to escape,” said Annudin.

The dead NPA rebel was later identified by onlookers as a certain Recto Garbin, a resident of San Sebastian village, Sta Elena town in Sorsogon.

Gaton and his father were immediately rushed by their relatives to a hospital in Sorsogon City for treatment. Attending physicians have declared them ‘in stable condition’.

Garbin’s body was also brought to Sta Elena PNP as criminal cases are readied against his co-conspirator who remains unidentified.

The latest attack occurred after the killing of Elmer Osila a.k.a. Ka Fredo in an encounter with government forces in Camarines Sur on September 22 (Wednesday).

Osila, the most senior-ranking bandit leader who was killed by Army troops is a native of Sorsogon.

A list of ‘targets’ for extra-judicial killing was confiscated documents from Osila’s possession. Included in the list are names of soldiers, militiamen and civilians who are suspected as military informants.

In CY 2010, the NPA bandits have killed 4 soldiers, 1 policeman,8 militiamen and 23 civilians in the rising cases of extra-judicial killings in the Bicol Region.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has directed all Army forces in the Bicol Region to remain vigilant of possible NPA retaliatory attacks after the neutralization of one of their senior cadres.