Pastor killed, 2 injured as alleged NPAs harass community: military

April 20, 2018

A Jehovah's Witness pastor  was killed while two were injured after alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) harassed a community in Surigao del Norte last Wednesday, a regional military spokesman said Friday. Capt. Francisco Garello, civil military operations officer of the  36th Infantry Battalion, said based on initial report the incident happened in Brgy Lahi, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte around 12 pm. “CPP-NPA terrorists believed to be under Guerrilla Front 16C harassed the civilian community of Brgy Lahi, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte by indiscriminately firing their high powered firearms at the residents living near the social hall of barangay,” he said. Garello said the armed men shot at three civilians on board a motorcycle. He said the fatality was identified as Jepti Acido, 32, a pastor of Jehovah's Witness while the wounded were Virgil Flor Ortiz, 23, and Adner Malaque, 20,. Garello said “Acido sustained gunshot wounds in the left eye exiting to the back of his neck's left side while Malaque and Ortis sustained several gunshot and splinter wounds to the different parts of their body.” He said the wounded were rushed to the nearest hospital in Surigao City for medical attention. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) condemned the incident and said these come after recent killings allegedly done by the NPAs. "The killing of another innocent civilian and a religious leader at that shows proof of their decades long deception and orchestrated oppression of the toiling class, a show of unparalleled arrogance against the masses who have been at the receiving end of their atrocious and malevolent acts," said Brig. General Bienvenido Datuin, AFP spokesman, in a statement. Datuin said a certain Alias Otto apologized and promised their ranks with investigate the incident and punish those responsible. "Here now comes a certain Alias Otto, apologizing for their mistake. Should we believe their statement they will investigate and punish those responsible?  From his name alone, it seems he is lying. Why don't they use their real names if they believe what they are fighting for is right," said Datuin. Garello said the government troops on combat operation conducted pursuit operation against the armed men. Robina Asido/DMS