TAGUM CITY, Philippines – A militiaman was shot dead by alleged New People’s Army rebels, one of them a relative of the victim, in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, on Friday, police said Saturday.

Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Compostela Valley police chief, identified the victim as David Cabatlao, 57, a resident of Purok 6, Barangay (village) Pasian, who was assigned to the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) patrol base in Sitio (sub-village) Landing 14, Barangay Upper Ulip.

One of the suspects was identified as Dominador Domingo alias Loloy, a relative of the victim.

Aquino said the killing happened at 11 a.m. He said Cabatlao was having drinks with Domingo and an unidentified man before the shooting.

“The suspect [Domingo] invited the victim to a nearby videoke joint and while on the way, their unidentified companion pulled a handgun and shot the victim four times on the breast, killing him,” Aquino said.

“We have yet to pinpoint a motive, but most likely the victim was killed because of his being a Cafgu member. The unidentified gunman is also an NPA under Front Committee 3,” Aquino said.

Meanwhile, a couple said to be members of the NPA surrendered to the military in Compostela Valley also on Friday.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, 10th Infantry Division spokesman, said that Junifer Avila alias Aweng, 23, and his partner, Reizel Tolentino alias Ivan, 18, who is three months pregnant, turned themselves in to Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Napuli of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion.

Garcia said the couple was formerly with the NPA’s Sentro de Gravidad, Front 34 operating in the boundary of Laak, Compostela Valley, and Loreto, Agusan del Sur.