January 3, 2001, Sun Star, Pastor, 3 others die in Davao Sur violence, by Allan Nawal,

January 3, 2001, Sun Star, Pastor, 3 others die in Davao Sur violence, by Allan Nawal,

DIGOS CITY -- A series of violent incidents leaving four people including a pastor dead and several others injured marred the closing of the year 2000 in the Davao del Sur.Around 7 p.m., on Sunday, civilian volunteers of Barangay Zone I in Sta. Cruz town, Davao del Sur shot it out with a group of fugitives resulting in the death of two militiamen and the wounding of two others.

Killed were Jonathan Apostol and Basilio Cuadra when their unit encountered the group of Fernando Hermosada in Sitio Patulangon.

Hermosada, a former New People's Army (NPA) guerrilla, is wanted for a series of crimes including murder and highway robbery in Sta. Cruz town.

He bolted the Provincial Rehabilitation Center here in 1998 shortly after he was arrested for murder.

Senior Supt. Guillermo Lara, provincial police director, identified the wounded CVOs as Carlos Regaspi and Gerry Guttierez. "There are undetermined number of killed or wounded on the enemy side," Lara said.

Chief Insp. Huberto Abadia, head of the provincial police's planning and operations division, said that shortly after the encounter, Hermosada's group fired at a Weena bus bound for Davao City.

"They might be planning to bring their wounded companions to Davao or they were trying to rob the bus because they needed the money for the treatment of their wounded," Abadia said.

At least one bus passenger, identified as Sofia Ebrahim of Cotabato City, was killed after she sustained several injuries. Ebrahim was seated behind bus driver Raymundo Genabe who was also injured.

In Magsaysay town, a pastor was killed, also on Sunday when unidentified armed men strafed the Christian Alliance Church of the Philippines at Barangay Bacungan.

Slain was Pastor Velasco Pelayo, whose body was riddled with bullets when the armed men fired at the CHCP church located in Purok 10, Upper Asbangilod, Barangay Tagaytay at around 11:55 p.m. last Dec. 31.

Hurt in the latest act of terrorism to hit Mindanao were Rufina Pelayo, the pastor's wife, Conchita Calumpitan and eight-year-old Edwin Calumpitan.

Chief Insp. Joverto Abadia, plans and operations officer of the Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office, said all the victims were inside the chapel to celebrate and welcome the new year when shot.

Abadia said a police manhunt was immediately launched to track down the perpetrators. He said there is a big possibility that the gunmen are MILF rebels.

"Posible nga sila maoy naghimo sa maong krimen, apan amo sa karong gisusi and laing angulo nga mga bandidong B'laan ang nagpatay kang Pastor Pelayo," Abadia told Sun.Star. (It's possible that the attackers were MILF, but we are also looking into the possibility that this is the handiwork of bandits.)

Meanwhile, Abdul Tarawe, a fisherman from Barangay Aplaya of this city was nearly killed when he was hacked by a neighbor over an altercation.

In Matanao town, unidentified armed men waylaid Ruben Lovitos in Crossing Savoy. He was hit in the thigh but managed to drive his motorcycle home.