• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Seven members of the New People’s Army (NPA) gunned down a 30-year-old laborer on Wednesday evening at Sitio Mansiguibo, Barangay San Isidro, Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Initial investigation by Toboso Municipal Police Station revealed that while the victim was at his residence, the seven armed men, who were reportedly wearing bonnets, arrived.
The suspects reportedly brought the victim approximately 20 meters away from his house and shot the victim using an unknown caliber of firearm hitting different parts of his body.
His attackers then fled towards the mountainous area of Brgy. Bandila, while the victim succumbed to his gunshot wounds.
The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-New People’s Army yesterday claimed in a statement the death of the victim, whom they identified as Ramil Ramos.
Rebels said that the execution of Ramos was carried out after their allegations that he was an intelligence asset of the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
They added that Ramos had refused to pay farmers in the upland areas of Toboso, after buying agricultural products, prompting them to execute Ramos.
Authorities are now coordinating with the victim’s family for further investigations.
CALL FOR PEACE
In response to the series of insurgency-related killings, ten People’s Organizations (POs) convened and held a peace rally yesterday at Barangay Lo-ok, Calatrava town, in Negros Occidental, voicing against armed violence in the province.
The rally emphasized the organizations’ call for an end to violence, stressing that peace, security, and socio-economic progress in Northern Negros depend on non-violent paths.
Participants united under the message, “End violence, build progress!” Condemning the series of civilian killings perpetuated by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG), they vowed to stand for peace.*
