Suspected rebels kill CAFGU member in NegOr

Ten gunmen suspected to be New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed a militiaman inside his home in Sitio Basyao, Barangay Pinocawa in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental last night, the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army has said.

Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary (CAA) member Cirilo S. Paderna, 51, was shot dead in the presence of his family by suspected NPA members of the Central Negros 1, a media release from the 62nd IB said today, Sept. 2, 2021.

Paderna was assigned to the Barangay Maglahos Patrol Base in Vallehermoso.

The body of the slain CAFGU member was brought to the town police station for autopsy and investigation.

Recovered from the crime scene were three spent cartridges of M-16 rifle; five caliber .45 spent shells; one caliber .45 cartridge; one caliber .45 slug; and one caliber 5.56mm slug.

Juanita, Paderna’s wife, called for justice for her murdered husband while Pinocawa barangay chairman Danilo C. Salmo condemned the killing.

“Wala kaming record na nagkaroon siya ng paglabag sa barangay o kanino mang tao. Nagpapasalamat pa nga kami sa kanyang boluntaryong pagpasok sa CAA dahil siya ay nakakatulong upang mapapanatili ang katihimikan sa aming lugar at iba pang barangay (We do not have any records of him being involved in any misdeeds in the barangay or against any person. In fact, we are thankful for his voluntary enlistment as a CAA at it helped maintain peace in our village and nearby barangays),” Salmo said.

Lt. Col. Melvin Flores, 62nd IB commanding officer, appealed for the people’s cooperation for the arrest of the perpetrators and to bring justice to the victim and his family.

He also called on the people to continue helping the government in the fight against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA which is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.* (Mary Judaline Partlow, PNA)