• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The New People’s Army in Negros Island appears to be on a killing spree, as another civilian tagged as a “military informant” was summarily executed on January 28, in Sitio Tugas, Brgy. Pinggot, Ilog, Negros Occidental, with responsibility over the latest death claimed by the NPA Armando Sumayang Command.
The victim, identified by the Ilog Police Station as Silas Granada, 65, succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head. He is the fifth victim of a series of summary executions in Negros Island, carried out and claimed by various rebel units over the course of this month.
The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division condemned the spate of killings perpetrated by the communist terrorist group in Negros.
In a statement, Ka Andrea Guerrero, spokesperson of the Armando Sumayang Command, alleged that Granada, alias Nacar, served as a military intelligence asset that she also accused of engaging in land grabbing activities.
Guerrero further claimed that a .45 caliber pistol with four magazines containing ammunition, and a Magnum caliber .22 revolver were also confiscated by the members of the Armando Sumayang Command who carried out the imposition of death penalty against Granada.
Based on the initial investigations of the Ilog police, a group of about 30 armed men visited the house of the victim, where heated confrontations ensued that later resulted in the fatal shooting of Granada.
The New People’s Army Leonardo Panaligan Command also issued a statement claiming responsibility for the killing of a civilian it alleged is a member the defunct Revolutionary Proletarian Army – Alex Boncayao Brigade in Negros Occidental.
Ka JB Regalado, spokesman of the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command, justified the killing of Ramel Europa, an alleged member of the RPA-ABB from 1998 to 2015, whom he linked to numerous illegal activities.
Europa, 47, as reported by the police, was found dead with a gunshot wound on January 23, beside a creek in Sitio Sambag, Brgy. Manghanoy, La Castellana.
The police recovered a fired cartridge of a .45 caliber pistol at the scene of incident.
However, a former RPA-ABB member who requested not to be identified clarified that Europa is not a member of their organization.
The NPA Mt. Cansermon Command also issued another statement claiming responsibility for the death of Regie “Gang Gang” dela Cruz on Jan. 25 in Sitio Maiti, Brgy Buenavista, Himamaylan City, also in Negros Occidental.
Rebel spokesperson Ka Dionesio Magbuelas alleged that dela Cruz served as an active military and police informant, whom he linked to the arrest and killing a certain Ka Carding and Ka Clea on April 22 last year.
Magbuelas reported the confiscation of two fragmentation grenades from dela Cruz.
The NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command had earlier claimed responsibility for the killing of two alleged military informants, including barangay kagawad Cerilo Balasabas, and Raffy Estorco on Jan. 14 and 19, in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental, and Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, respectively.*
