LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – One of the three communist rebels killed in an encounter with government troops on Tuesday morning was a former president of the militant transport group in Bicol, the New People’s Army (NPA) said yesterday.
In a letter sent to local media outlets, the NPA’s Celso Menguez Command identified their slain members as Joel Ascutia, former president of the Concerned Drivers and Operators for Reform-Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Condor-Piston) in Bicol from 2005 to 2009; Christian Llagas, 19; and Leopoldo Nebres, 43.
In 2009, Ascutia was shot and wounded in an indignation rally in Daraga, Albay. After the slay attempt, he became less active and then went missing.
The NPA command said Ascutia sought refuge in the NPA, and in early 2011, decided to finally join the NPA command in Bicol.