GUNNED DOWN. Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary Dwight Misinas was killed by members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Barangay Masaroy, Calinog in Iloilo on Oct. 13, 2021. The victim's group is deployed in the barangay to secure the heavy equipment used for the ongoing government project in the area. (Photo courtesy of PA 3ID)
ILOILO CITY – A member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) was killed when an estimated 10 New People's Army rebels fired upon the victim's group in Barangay Masaroy in Calinog, Iloilo on Wednesday morning.
In an interview on Thursday, Captain Dadje Delima, chief of police of the Calinog Municipal Police Station (MPS), identified the fatality as CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) Dwight Misinas, 25, single and resident of Barangay Camalungo of the said town.
The victim was deployed in the area to secure the heavy equipment used in the ongoing concreting of the farm-to-market road (FMR) in the barangay.
It was learned that Misinas and two other CAAs were on their way back to their detachment after fetching water from a nearby well around 8:20 a.m. when "along the way they were fired upon by an estimated 10 members of the communist terrorist group,” Delima said.
The victim was killed on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds, Delima said, while the other two CAAs were unhurt.
The rebels were estimated to be positioned around five to 10 meters away from the victim's group.
The gunmen fled after the shooting and snatched the victim’s M-16 rifle.
“There is still an ongoing clearing operation in the area after the hot pursuit operation that was conducted right after the incident,” said the chief of police.
Barangay Masaroy, which is situated 20 kilometers away from the town proper, remains NPA-infested.
In a statement, the Philippine Army said the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA resorted to killing the government troop because they were unsuccessful in their plan to burn the heavy equipment being used in the government project.
“The CPP-NPA Terrorist is once again showing their real condition as a dying organization. They are no longer capable of harming the communities and government forces through attacks; hence, they employed deceitful and cowardly actions,” said Major Gen Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
