ILOILO City – The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) has identified those behind Wednesday’s abduction and killing of Army Corporal Frederick Villasis in Barangay Lahug, Tapaz, Capiz.
The suspects were members of the Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) platoon led by Ka Yamal under the Central Front Committee of the New People’s Army (NPA), according to Major Cenon Pancito III, 3ID spokesperson.
Charges are being prepared.
Villasis, a resident of Barangay Jaena, Tapaz, was a member of the 12th Infantry Battalion and leader of the Philippine Army’s Community Support Program (CSP) Sustainment Team in Barangay Lahug.
He and Lahug barangay kagawads Analyn Giganto and Estong Sumaria were on board two motorcycles when they were blocked by around 40 armed men.
The men took Villasis away and shot him to death from behind. They also burned his motorcycle.
Major General Eric Vinoya, 3ID commander, condemned the killing and branded the rebels as human rights violators.
“I will make sure that the sacrifice of one of our soldiers in the service of God, country and people will not be in vain. We will legally seek justice. While we mourn, we shall make sure that what our soldier started in Lahug, Tapaz will continue until we finally end the local communist armed conflict,” Vinoya added./PN
