MINDANAO, Philippines — Christians on the Philippine island of Mindanao believe Maoist rebels are responsible for killing a Baptist pastor and his adult son near a southern town Nov. 27.
A friend of the pastor in Mindanao said area Christians believe insurgents with the New People’s Army (NPA), an armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, were responsible for shooting Pastor Feliciano “Cris” Lasawang, 50, and his 24-year-old son, Darwin, as they bathed in the Culaman River north of Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur Province, at 6 a.m.
Cris Lasawang was shot three times in the body, and his son once in the face, according to relatives. The two men died at the site. They had conducted baptisms in the same river where they died, according to U.S.-based Christian Aid Mission, which assists native ministries around the world.
The pastor’s friend, whose name is withheld for security reasons, said area Christians suspect NPA rebels because the guerrillas believe church growth dampens insurgent recruitment efforts, and the pastor had received reports that the communist militants were monitoring his movements. (MS)
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