• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Within a period one month, remnants of the New People’s Army Roselyn Jean Pelle Command have claimed responsibility for the summary execution of a total of three civilians in Toboso, Victorias City and E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, all of whom they accused as military informants.
In a statement published on its website, the rebel group, through its spokesperson, Cecille Estrella, claimed responsibility for the killing of a certain Rickne Daipal on April 15 in Sitio Bairan, Brgy, General Luna, Toboso.
Estrella accused the victim as an informant of the 79th Infantry Battalion, who they also linked to several murder incidents in the past.
The investigation of the Toboso Police Station showed that the victim, a 49-year-old farmer, was shot and killed by three unidentified armed suspects, as he was resting inside his residence on Wednesday last week.
He succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, according to the police.
In another statement, the rebel group owned the killing of a certain Jhonni Montoya, alias Owing, on April 2 at Sityo Singco in Barangay Gawahon, Victorias City.
The Initial investigation of the Victorias City Police Station indicated that the victim, a 44-year-old farmer, was shot and killed by three armed men outside the barangay hall, for no apparent reason.
Authorities recovered three fired cartridges and a slug of a caliber .45 pistol at the scene of the incident.
The same group of rebels also claimed responsibility for the killing of a 60-year-old barangay watchman and former quarry guard in Barangay Consing, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, on March 11.
In a statement sent to the media, rebel spokesperson Ka Cecil Estrella identified the victim, known as “Dakol,” as an alleged military intelligence asset.
The admissions come after the National Democratic Front (NDF) marked on April 24 its 52nd founding anniversary.
The NDF, a political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been designated as a terrorist organization by the government Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).*
