Masbate NPAs continue to harass, threaten, Absalon family

THE Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed thug, the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), continue make life difficult and fearful for the family of rising football player, Kieth Absalon, six months after he and his cousin were murdered by the terrorist group in the province.

Presidential communications undersecretary Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, also spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), said the terrorist group operating in Masbate upped the ante of their harassment and threats against the Absalons after they rejected the offer of “reparation” for the deaths made by the CPP thru an unnamed local priest.

“Kieth Absalon’s father, last December (2021) was approached by a priest with money from the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) …they refused it.

“Two weeks ago, their dog was shot by the NPAs. They live in constant fear.

“Their case keeps dragging on as 3 or 4 judges have inhibited themselves,” Badoy added.

In an incident that drew international condemnation, Kieth, 21, an ‘MVP’ (most valuable player) in football playing for the Far Eastern University (FEU) in Manila and considered as one of the country’s rising national athletes, was viciously murdered by the CPP-NPA along with his older cousin, Nolven, along the national road in Bgy. Anas, Masbate City, on June 6, 2021.

They were in a group of bikers who liked to spend their weekends biking together to stay fit and healthy.

It would take two days, on June 8, 2021, before the CPP-NPA acknowledged “full responsibility” for the murders as the facts of the incident can no longer be twisted by their members embedded in the mainstream media and their representative in Congress thru the Makabayan Bloc.

The CPP, however, simply dismissed the deaths by putting the blame on “error of military tactic” by the local NPA command under Eddie Rosero, aka, ‘Star.’ The CPP also offer to indemnify the Absalon family. The family, however firmly rejected both the apology and offer of indemnity and instead demanded for the CPP to identify and surrender the perpetrators.

The autopsy report of the incident, however, disclosed the Absalons were not victims of an anti-personnel mine (APM) that prematurely exploded but were purposely targeted for murder that day (see also Pinoy Exposé article of July 5, 2021).

The autopsy disclosed that both were even shot at close range by the terrorist band while they were already lying defenseless and severely wounded from the shrapnel of an APM the terrorists planted along the road the Absalons were to pass by.

The Absalons earned the ire of the CPP-NPA for openly encouraging their province mates not to join the terrorist group or any of the CPP’s front organizations in the province.

In the aftermath, the military and the police were able to identify the 24 members of the terrorist group that carried out the attack on the Absalons with two counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder being filed against them in local court of Masbate (see also Pinoy Exposé article of July 5, 2021).

However, with local judges in Masbate refusing to entertain the case, it is headed for nowhere, while continuing to endanger the life of the Absalon family.

Badoy added that even Kieth’s mother, a local teacher, is now under severe strain as she is being “blamed” by school officials for allegedly putting them in harm’s way.

“Mga walang kaluluwa”—DILG chief for death of 2 children in NPA Samar ambush

Meanwhile, the CPP-NPA continue to fortify its image as a brutal terrorist organization after staging an ambush in Northern Samar last February 8, 2022, that left two children dead.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Eduardo M. Año, in a statement last February 12, 2022, said the incident in Bgy. Roxas, Catubig town has again proved that the CPP-NPA are terrorists.

“Mga walang puso at kaluluwa ang mga salot sa lipunan na ito.  The NPA has, time and again, proven that they are terrorists,” Año said.

“The DILG condemns this heinous crime against two children who were unfortunately at the wrong place and time. We condole with their families and vow to give them the justice they deserve,” he added.

From the reports on the incident, elements from the Philippine Army’s 803^rd Brigade under Col. Perfecto Peñarondo were dispatched to the site after being informed about the presence of armed men in the area.

On arrival, the soldiers cautioned the civilians in the area gathering coconuts on the presence of the terrorists, who, unknown to them, are already in ambush position.

The NPA then opened fire but instead of hitting any of the soldiers, they shot 3 youngsters instead.

“Nagawang dumapa ng mga sundalo, pero yung mga civilians na nasa likod nila, nagtakbuhan. Pinaputukan ng NPA yung mga civilian kaya tinamaan agad yung tatlo,” Peñaredondo told higher Army headquarters.

After being fully briefed of the incident, M/Gen. Edgardo de Leon, 8^th Infantry Division commander, bewailed the “willful killings of civilians” by the NPA.

“Yung bala ng NPA papunta sa direksyon kung saan tumakbo ang mga bata kaya sila ang tinamaan. Nakapwesto ang NPA sa high ground kaya kitang kita nila na civilians ang tinatarget nila.

“Walang precaution na pinaputukan nila ang mga civilians. That is willful killing of civilians,” De Leon emphasized.

The fatalities were identified as Andre Mercado, 12, who died on the spot and Leandro Alivio, 13, who died a day later at the local hospital. Before he expired, Alivio confirmed that they were deliberately targeted for shooting by the NPA.

Two more minors were also wounded during the incident, the military added.