BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More Negrenses have condemned anew the atrocities perpetrated by the New People’s Army rebels, following the burial of barangay tanod Elmer Ortencio at a public cemetery in Brgy. 14, Victorias City, Negros Occidental on April 25.
The NPA in northern Negros earlier claimed responsibility for the abduction and killing of Ortencio in Brgy. Consing, EB Magalona, whom they accused of being a military informant, and the burning of three heavy equipment in the same barangay, two weeks ago.
Lt. Col. Gerard Alvaran, 79th Infantry Battalion commander, said residents of Brgy. Consing, EB Magalona strongly denounced the atrocities perpetrated by the NPA in their barangay during the burial of Ortencio that was also attended by members of the Youth for Peace-Northern Negros chapter, partylist group ACT-CIS, Guardians, and other civic groups.
PEACE RALLY
Alvaran said the residents of Brgy. Consing also held a peace rally and caravan, and displayed placards calling for an end to the killings, harassment, extortion, and deception of civilians by the communist terrorist group, as a way of expressing their extreme anger towards the NPA.
Estimated damage on the three heavy equipment burned by the NPA was placed by authorities at P16 million.
Ortencio was abducted by armed men in the afternoon of April 13, and was found dead, with a gunshot wound in the head, hours later at a bamboo plantation in Hacienda Margarita, Brgy Consing, EB Magalona.
WAKE-UP CALL
“This incident is another wake-up call for all Negrenses to shun the CPP-NPA,” Alvaran said.
Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the activity indicated that Negrenses are already aware of the deceptive tactics of the communist terrorist group in northern Negros. Pasaporte lauded them for actively participating in the government’s thrust in restoring peace and bringing development and progress in Negros Occidental.*
