A civilian died, while his companion was injured, in an ambush allegedly perpetrated by about 10 armed men believed to be members of the New People's Army in Sitio Pidpid, Brgy. San Agustin, Isabela, Sunday.

Army S/Sgt. Glen Trinidad of the 11 th Infantry Battalion, yesterday identified the fatality as Antonio Minasalbas, 31, and the injured as Art Molina, 27, both residents of the barangay.

Trinidad said the two were on their way to the public plaza of Sitio Pidpid in the barangay to watch a basketball game, when the ambush took place.

Citing investigations of the Isabela police, Trinidad said Minasalbas also sustained stab wounds, aside from gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body.

He added that Lucas Estoya who was identified among the rebel ambushers, reportedly used his comrades to settle old grudges of his relative who was in conflict with Minasalbas.

Military records show that Estoya is a member of Squad 2, Platoon 1 of the Komiteng Larangan-Sentral Negros.

Senior Inspector Virgilio de la Cruz, Isabela police chief, said Estoya and his brother, JR, initiated the ambush, backed by their comrades who served as members of the blocking forces.

Recovered from the scene of the incident were two empty shells of a 12-gauge shotgun.

Molina who was hit in the left arm, is now being treated of his gunshot wound at the Ignacio Arroyo Sr. District Hospital in Isabela, Negros Occidental.*GPB

back to top