2 activists shot dead in Quezon

CAMP GENERAL NAKAR, Lucena City — The common-law wife and brother-in-law of the leader of Bayan Muna in General Nakar, Quezon who were themselves both active members of the militant group, were gunned down inside their home last Saturday morning, police said.

Senior Inspector Dodgie Benaid, General Nakar police chief, identified the victims as Marilou Rubio-Sanchez, 42, and her brother, Virgilio Rubio, 40, both of Sitio Anibungan in Barangay Magsikap, General Nakar.

Police said Sanchez was the common-law wife of Hilario Sanchez, leader of Bayan Muna in General Nakar’s District 1.

Investigation showed that the couple and Virgilio were asleep when armed men barged into their house, dragged Hilario to the frontyard, and beat him up until he lost consciousness.

While Hilario was being beaten up, Marilou and Virgilio tried to intervene but one of the unidentified men shot them with a long firearm, police said.

After the shooting, the armed men hurriedly left. Police found seven empty M-16 shells and one empty shell and a slug from a caliber .45 pistol.

Police were still investigating the motive behind the attack. Hilario was temporarily placed under the custody of Gerry Ritwal, chairman of Barangay Magsikap, for security reasons.

Arman Albarillo, Bayan Muna’s Southern Tagalog secretary-general, denounced the killings and accused the military of having a hand in them.

Army Maj. Jose Broso, public information officer of the Southern Luzon Command, however, said Albarillo’s accusations were baseless.