LEGAZPI CITY – A group of armed men believed to be New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Saturday abducted and killed three innocent civilians in Palanas, Masbate.
Bicol police spokesperson, Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, identified the victims as Jose Lalaguna, 51, of Barangay Tugbo, Masbate; Jestoni Lalaguna, 22; and Joey Lalaguna, both of Barangay Asid in Palanas, Masbate.
According to the Masbate Police Provincial Office, the victims were on board their motorcycle while selling housewares when they were flagged down and abducted by a 30-man NPA group in the vicinity of Barangay Miabas, Palanas at around 7 a.m.
The bodies of Jose and Jestoni were discovered along the road in Barangay Piña at 4 p.m. on the same day while the body of Joey was found 30 minutes later in sub-village Umawas in Barangay Miabas.
The report added that the bodies of the victims bore fatal wounds in various parts of their bodies that caused their death.
The bodies were brought to a rural health unit of Palanas for post mortem examination.
The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
