On the death of the FEU varsity player Keith Absalon at the hands of the NPA
Updated: Jun 6, 2021
A total of 117 NPAs have surrendered in Bicol and Southern Tagalog region in the past 2 months alone. As a result of this, the NPAs are carelessly taking desperate actions to reverse the trend, even at the expense of killing civilans. This morning, two civilians were killed and a 16-year old boy was wounded in Masbate when they were attacked by the NPAs with a landmine and followed by gunfire. Keith Absalon, 21 yrs old, a varsity football player from Far Eastern University (FEU) was one of those killed together with his uncle, Nolven Absalon, 40 yrs old. Nolven's son, Daniel Absalon, 16yrs old was also wounded.
Also today, June 6 at 3am, in Bgy Humapon, Legazpi City, Albay, the NPAs burned a Globe cell tower and rigged a landmine in a light post nearby to target the expected responding government troops. However, the landmine exploded wounding instead 4 civilians aboard a passing tricycle.
It must be recalled that a similiar landmining incident was also committed last June 1 in Bgy Calumpang, Cawayan, Masbate. Fortunately, no one was injured in that incident. In Bgy Aliang, Ligao City, Albay a similar landmining attack by the NPAs that wounded 2 civilians was conducted last April 3.
Also, ambushes committed by a handful of NPAs have been reported in Mindoro and Buenavista, Quezon. The former happened in Bgy San Nicolas, Magsaysay, Occ Mindoro last May 28 which killed three policemen in a convoy assisting the LGU conducting a "Serbisyo Caravan at Ugnayan sa Barangay" in Bgy Naibuan, San Jose, Occ Mindoro. In Bgy Bagong Silang, Buenavista, Quezon last June 5, a CAA was killed when they were ambushed using a landmine after coming from a community gift giving activity from the nearby Bgy Del Rosario of that municipality.
These incidents are indicators that the NPAs are in panic mode. They are losing their comrades from the series of surrenders. The NPAs are forced to attack to show they still exist, albeit insignificantly now. They have also been losing their top cadres, like Rommel Riza@Jomar, CO of STRPC Main Regl Guerilla Unit (MRGU) and Regl Special Opns Grp (RSOG). Also last June 3 in Romblon, two suspected high ranking personalities of SRMA 4A were also apprehended when their banca took shelter in Romblon while enroute to Quezon Province from Mindoro during the height of Tropical Storm DANTE. A Glock-17 pistol and handgrenade were found in the banca that they were using. The two are suspected to be @Elian, the deputy secretary of SMR-4B operating in Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon Province and his party wife @Fiel, the Political Officer of SRMA-4B.
We cannot tolerate these treacherous acts of the CPP NPA NDF. We condemn these heinous violations of the International Humanitarian Law.
LTGEN ANTONIO PARLADE JR PA
Commander, SOLCOM