LEGAZPI CITY—ADMITTING IT WAS behind the explosion of two roadside bombs Sunday that wounded Masbate Gov. Elisa Kho and a security aide, the New People’s Army (NPA) apologized to the provincial executive, saying she was not the target of the attack.
Greg Bañares, spokesperson of the communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF) in Bicol, said the NPA’s Jose Rapsing Command had ambushed a police patrol car and did not expect Kho’s vehicle to be just behind it.
“The attack was not intended for Governor Kho as the police have been claiming. We apologize to her,” said Bañares in a phone interview with the Inquirer.
Bañares said it was not true the patrol car, which belonged to the 507th Provincial Police Mobile Group (PPMG), was part of Kho’s convoy.
He said the NPA also fired on the PPMG vehicle, wounding five of its passengers.
“Our comrades did not fire on Kho’s vehicle, a civilian car, and we let it withdraw safely from the scene,” Bañares said.
He said the attack was part of the increased tactical offensives ordered by the Communist Party of the Philippines ahead of the 2009 Balikatan exercise in Bicol. (See story below)
One of the NPA rebels suspected of being behind the attack was identified by Bicol police director Chief Supt. Paterno Bangui as Joel Atibago, a former member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu). Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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