DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 2, 2008) – Communist insurgents executed a Christian minister they accused of aiding soldiers in anti-insurgency campaign in the southern Philippines, a regional army spokesman said on Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia said soldiers recovered the body of Josefino Estaniel, a pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, from a shallow grave on a village called Dalagdag in Calinan district in Davao City, a known stronghold of the New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents.
The NPA is the armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Decapia said civilian informants led security forces Tuesday at the grave of the 45-year old minister. He said Estaniel was abducted by insurgents in May on orders from NPA leader Leoncio Pitao, also known as Commander Parago.
“The decomposing body of Estaniel was exhumed two kilometers away from the house of a certain Edwin Tangud, where the group of Parago executed the victim. According to initial field report, the victim was tortured before he was executed and buried,” Decapia, quoting army reports, said.
Maj. Gen. Fogy Leo Fojas, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, has condemned the NPA atrocities and the killing of the Christian minister. (Romy Bwaga)
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