‘NPA insurgents’ kill cop, civilian in Negros Oriental

Five suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels shot dead a policeman and a civilian companion in Negros Oriental province late Friday. A report on Visayan Daily Star Saturday said the incident occurred at Carmenville Subdivision in Guihulngan City at 5 p.m. Friday. The report cited military and police sources identifying the fatalities as SPO1 Ronnie Marinog of the Guihulngan City police station, and civilian Budoy de la Peña. Guihulngan police chief Senior Inspector Carlos Lacuesta said the two died on the spot. It was not immediately clear if the policeman was armed when they were shot. Lt. Col. Ramil Bitong, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, said pursuit operations were still ongoing against the fleeing suspected rebel assassins Friday night. Police checkpoints were also established in strategic areas of Guihulngan, he said. — LBG, GMANews.TV