Two barangay officials held hostage by NPAs executed: PNP

January 20, 2021

Two barangay officials who were abducted in Barangay Cabas-an in Aroroy, Masbate were  executed by their New People’s Army (NPA) captors, according to the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday.

“The PNP expresses our deepest condolences to the families of Barangay Kagawad Victorino Bravo III and Barangay Tanod Arnel Retanan who were mercilessly murdered by the CPP-NPA,” General Debold Sinas said.

Sinas said the two officials were among the three who were abducted by the rebels, led by a certain “Kris” and “Star” last January 19.

He earlier said Barangay Chairman Aniano Capinig managed to escape and is being protected by the police.

Due to the incident, police and military units backed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) established land and sea blockades in two coastal towns of Masbate to intercept the rebels responsible to the death of the officials.

The Masbate Police Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion have established checkpoints along the national road connecting the towns of Aroroy, Baleno leading to Masbate City.

The Philippine Coast Guard Masbate Station has deployed a coastal patrol composed of four sea craft to prevent  the attackers from escaping.

Brig. General Bartolome Bustamante, Bicol police director, said the terrorist group was last sighted some four kilometers from Barangay Cabas-an in Sitio Maruga, Barangay Macabog, Aroroy headed to the eastern part of Barangay Capsay, Baleno.

Bustamante said the terrorists carried IEDs as they  evade capture by  security forces.

One still unidentified NPA member has been captured in the dragnet operation.

Bustamante said the suspect was armed with a handgun and an IED and is being investigated. Ella Dionisio/DMS