CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, April 1 (PNA) – The military is looking into circumstances that led to Monday’s killing of an army official by armed rebels along the national road in this city.

Sgt. Romeo Tan, detachment commander of Philippine Army’s 52nd Infantry Battallion based in Talalora, Samar was driving a single motorcycle along the major highway in Mahayag village, this city when armed men blocked the road and shot him three times.

The victim was off duty and unarmed during the attack. He was on his way to nearby San Jorge town to visit his family, said Capt. Andrew Linao, assistant spokesman of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division (ID).

Tan was very active in his peace and development works in rebel-infested communities in Samar, according to Linao

“There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack yet, however, both the police and military are now conducting an investigation as to how the incident happened and who are really behind,” Linao said

The attack happened a day after the 46th Founding Anniversary of the New People’s Army on March 29.

With the recent killing, the 8th ID officials warned soldiers to be vigilant on “shoot-to-kill” (STK) order by communist rebels, targeting unarmed soldiers.

The army recovered STK list when government troops sized some New People’s Army (NPA) camps in Samar.

The list includes names of active soldiers, policemen and civilians who are accused as military informants.

In 2014, the NPA in Samar provinces reportedly killed five soldiers and abducted two others. (PNA)
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