Govt militiaman killed in suspected NPA attacks in Butuan

BUTUAN CITY — A member of the Civilian Auxiliary Forces Government Unit (CAFGU) was killed after a series of attacks by the outlawed New People’s Army (NPA) on Monday, local police said. The Butuan City police identified the fatality as Ruben Ado, 44, a resident of Barangay Pianing, where the insurgents launched two attacks on Monday. According to police, Ado was shot dead by three suspected rebels at 3:05 p.m. using a .9 mm pistol. Seven suspected members of the rebel group also attacked the 23rd Infantry Battalion Patrol Base at 10:25 a.m. of the same day. The firefight that ensued lasted for about five minutes, hurting no one from the government troops and an undetermined number of the rebels. The communist rebels withdrew toward the area of Barangay Bugsukan, also in Butuan City, police added. — with Nikka Corsino, Ben Serrano/RSJ, GMANews.TV