Kieth Absalon, cousin, purposely killed by NPA, autopsy shows

THE autopsy report on the death of rising Philippine football star, Kieth Absalon and his cousin, Nolven, last June 6, 2021 in Masbate province showed the two were deliberately killed by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) after they already suffered serious injuries from an ‘APM’ (anti-personnel mine) blast planted by the terrorist group earlier that day.

In a report earlier today, June 9, 2021, ABS-CBN, quoting from the victims’ death certificate cited the immediate cause of death as hemorrhagic shock with underlying case as “gunshot wounds & blast injuries.”

Also citing the statement from an unnamed witness identified by the police, ABS-CBN further reported the witness as saying the explosion was “followed by a series of gunshots targeting victims namely Nolven Absalon and [Kieth] Absalon who sustained…injuries caused by the explosions and gunshot wounds.”

Members of the Absalon family also said the gunshot wounds on Kieth and Nolven are “visible” from Kieth’s face and head and on Nolven’s back, indicating they were shot at close range by the terrorists even as they are most likely already fighting for their lives from the injuries they sustained from the blast.

“Makikita yung bakas ng bala sa mukha ng kuya ko at sa ulo at maging sa likod ng pinsan ko (There are gunshot wounds in my brother’s face and head, and my cousin’s back),” Nathalie, Kieth’s sister also told ABS-CBN.

These details completely proved as plain lies the statement from the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) released on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, that the victims’ death was simply a result from “errors in the military action” committed by their NPA unit operating in the area.

Kieth, 21, and his cousin, Nolven, 40, along with the latter’s 16-years old son, went on a bike ride past 6:00 am from their house towards Bgy. B. Titong.

They were passing through Purok 4, Bgy. Anas, Masbate City, when they were attacked by the terrorist group believed to headed by ‘Eddie Rosero, aka, ‘Star,’ head of ‘Sentro de Grabidad’ (SDG), L1, Kilusang Probinsiya (KL) 4. The 16-years old nephew of Kieth was also wounded but was luckily not killed by the terrorists.

After the incident that Sen. Richard Gordon also described as an “assassination,” the group then scampered away.

These details completely proved as plain lies the statement from the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) released on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, that the victims’ death was simply a result from “errors in the military action” committed by their NPA unit operating in the area.

The brutal and senseless death of Kieth has drawn widespread condemnation from all walks of life and even in political circles as he was destined for greater things.  Just 21-years old, Kieth is seen as having a great potential of being one of the country’s best athletes in the near future.

Keith was already named ‘most valuable player’ (MVP) in 2016 in football, a team sport that the country has very few talented players. He was a varsity player at the FEU Men’s Football Team and plays for the ‘Malaya Football Club’ (MFC).

‘Hot pursuit’ kills 3 terrorists, recovery of arms cache

Following the Absalon murders, government troops immediately launched a hot pursuit operation, catching the terrorists in Bgy. Mapiña that resulted to a brief firefight, the Police Regional Office 5 of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said in a statement.

The PNP added the skirmish resulted to the recovery of an “assortment of improvised explosive devices” (IEDs) and “bomb components” (Pinoy Expose Issue No. 22), thus establishing the NPA’s culpability in the attack.

On June 8, the same day the CPP-NPA claimed they are taking “full responsibility” for the bombing, Southern Luzon commanding general, Lt. General Antonio ‘Jun’ Parlade said their continuing hot pursuit operation with joint elements from the PNP and the 9^th Infantry Division finally caught up with the terrorist group under Rosero numbering some 30 fully armed men in Bgy. Anas, Masbate City, the same village where the Absalons were murdered.

Parlade said the clash took place past 5:30 am and resulted to the death of 3 terrorists and the initial recovery of 3-M16 rifles and 1-M14 rifle.

“To pursue the NPA murderers of the Absalons in Masbate City, this command through the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, together with the Philippine National Police (PNP), launched operations in Masbate,” Parlade said.

Parlade added that an NPA “arms cache” consisting of 12 high powered fire arms (11 M16 rifles and 1 M653 rifle) believed to have been left by the fleeing terrorists was discovered in a nipa hut near Barangays Anas and Bolo.

Parlade added that the “pursuit of the remaining NPA criminals is still on going as of this time.”

Aside from the assault rifles, Masbate police chief, P/Lt. Colonel Steven dela Rosa said they also recovered more bombs (improvised explosive device, IED), bomb components, different calibers of ammunition and personal belongings left behind by the group.

Dela Rosa said they also immediately established checkpoints in Brgy. Kinamaligan, Pawa, Bantigue, and Bayombon all of Masbate City and adjacent municipalities to prevent the escape of the terrorists.