President Duterte has ordered a “stringent investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Far Eastern University (FEU) football star player Keith Absalon and his cousin, Nolven, who both perished from the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) over the weekend.
“The President promised for a stringent investigation [into the incident] and to hold accountable those who are responsible for it,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in an online news briefing on Thursday.
Absalon and Nolvin died last Sunday while cycling Barangay Anas, when an IED planted by local guerilla unit of the communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) exploded.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said both were also shot with gunfire by the rebels.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NPA admitted responsibility for the deaths and extend their willingness to extend indemnification to their families.
Roque condemned the incident as a “international war crime” since it involved an attack against civilians.
He said the people behind the incident should be arrested and tried in court.
“It is not only the dream of Keith, which disappeared with his death at the hands of CPP-NPA. The honor, which he could have given to the Philippines was also lost because of the said killing,” Roque stressed.
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