AFP official dodges attack
Some forty locals of a hinterland village in Leon, Iloilo cordoned off an official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here from a potential attack Sunday evening.
In a report, The News Today (TNT) got the confirmation of the incident that said to have placed the life of AFP Captain Lowen Gil Marquez and his family in danger. Marquez is the commanding officer of the AFP's 3rd Civil Relations Group and is in the forefront of the AFP's insurgency campaign.
Reached for comment, Captain Marquez said he had the matter reported to the town police as he went on to identify his alleged principal attacker, one Joven Tababa. The suspect, Marquez added, is known for his alias "Ka Randy" and reportedly an organic member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA), the splinter armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Ka Randy was purportedly with a "private army," all fully-armed and appeared to be ready for battle. Captain Marquez said he recalled seeing at least six armed men, two visibly brandishing long-arms and the others with short side-arms.
Labeling the confrontation as clear harassment and direct threat to his life and his family, Captain Marquez decried the actuations of the suspect and his associates.
As such, he called for intervention and action from RPA top brass saying it is a must that abusive acts of its members cum comrades be stopped. The RPA is currently involved in peace talks with the Philippine Government.
"The incident happened early evening in Barangay Camando," Captain Marquez said in a TNT interview. "I was there with my family for a personal visit with old friends and classmates, Leon being my hometown. Then this Ka Randy appeared with his group and demanded to talk to me. But I can see that he was drunk or at least was under the influence of alcohol so the people in the barangay refused to let him come close to me. The people protected me though he clearly wanted to ‘engage'. He even pointed his .38 caliber to one resident. It was at that time that I decided to leave the premises with my family. The people surrounded us and walked with us some 500 meters to the main road."
Marquez said it was the first time he ever had a physical confrontation with the suspect. In fact, off hand he cannot give a motive to the unprovoked attacked.
"I hope these harassments do not continue and the RPA higher-ups can do something about it," Captain Marquez ended.
It was not immediately clear what further actions, if any, will be pursued out of Sunday's incident.