• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Mt. Cansermon Command of the New People’s Army strongly belied the claims of the military that National Democratic Front consultant Rogelio Posadas died in encounter with 94th Infantry Battalions soldiers on April 20 in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.
In a statement, rebel spokesman Ka Dionesio Magbuelas alleged that Posadas was arrested, tortured and killed, debunking military claims that there was an encounter in Sitio Cabite, Binalbagan.
The 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army has positively identified Posadas based on revelations of former rebels, as the rebel who died during an encounter, whose remains were left behind at the encounter site by fleeing comrades.
Posadas was tagged by the Philippine Army as secretary of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor. Its regional commander, Romeo Nanta, alias Ka Juanito Magbanua, died in an encounter with 94IB in October last year, at Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
Magbuelas further claimed that Posadas and his three companions were riding two motorcycles and failed to reach their destinations on April 19.
He alleged that it is now a policy of the military to torture and kill arrested NDF consultants and cadres, including Ericson Acosta, and claim it as armed encounters.*
