NPAs attack home of ex-soldier; 2 hurt
New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have continued to step up attacks up north, but this time – instead of a government installation – they targeted the house of a retired soldier in Barangay San Jose, Baggao, Cagayan, wounding two civilians Sunday night.
“It’s an atrocity and an act of cowardice,” Chief Superintendent Robert Quenery, Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) director, said of the attack of some 30 guerrillas on the civilian home.
Senior Superintendent Warren Tolito, Cagayan Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, said the target of the attack at 9 p.m. Sunday was the house of Philippine Army veteran, Dexter Remodaro, who was not at home at that time.
“Pinaulanan ng putok ng baril ang bahay nung isang retired military ng halos limang minuto (The house of the retired soldier was strafed for about five mintes),” Tolito said.
He said two civilians – Vilma Raguingan and Jeraise Raguingan – were caught in the hail of bullets and later rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. It was unclear as of press time yesterday afternoon if the two were occupants of Remodaro’s house or just neighbors.
“I condemn in the strongest term possible, the atrocity perpetrated by the New People’s Army against the people of Baggao,” Quenery told The Manila Bulletin.
“The atrocity of the NPA was committed not only against the household of the veteran Army soldier, who has been peaceably and quietly enjoying the fruits of his labor in the service of his country, but also against the people of Baggao, who only want to live in peace and harmony,” he added.