• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The New People’s Army continues its purging of civilians suspected as military informants, following debacles they suffered in gun battles with Army soldiers in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, as they claimed responsibility for killing two more individuals they alleged as “intelligence assets” of 94th Infantry Battalion.
The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade slammed the NPA for killing innocent civilians on mere suspicions of being military informants.
They strongly debunked rebel claims that the three slain civilians were military spies.
In a statement, Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, spokesman of the Mt. Cansermon Command of the New People’s Army South Central Negros Guerilla Front, known as Central Negros 2, as reported by the Philippine Army, disclosed that they successfully carried out the imposition of death penalty against Michael “Kulot” Soledad on June 2 in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
Magbuelas claimed that Soledad played a big role in the raid conducted by Army soldiers against their unit on March 1 in Sitio Canagban, Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, that claimed the lives of four of their comrades he identified through their aliases as Ka Jemon, Ka Sardo, Ka Andre, and Ka Jeloy.
He reported that Soledad, who used to be a resident of Sitio Canagban, transferred to barangay Carabalan proper, after the raid against MCC-NPA unit.
Initial investigation conducted by the Himamaylan police showed that the victim was on a drinking spree with his friends when an unidentified person arrived and talked to his wife.
The suspect later approached the victim and shot him in the head without any provocation. He was declared dead on arrival at the Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital in Himamaylan City, according to the police.
Magbuelas also said that they also killed Regie Soledad, a first cousin of Michael Soledad, on April 19, who also allegedly participated in the conduct of raid against their unit on March 1.
He further claimed that Regie also served as an informant of 94IB.
Magbuelas had also claimed responsibility for the summary execution of Raul Enmacino on May 25 in Sitio Colihao, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City.
He alleged that Enmacino were among the suspects in the killing of two NPA members on April 1 last year, when Elbert Nicholas Quillano, alias Carding, and Jessa “Ka Clea” Quillano, were both staying at his residence when the incident took place.
Military records showed that Quillano, a platoon leader of the Central Negros 2, and his wife, Jessa, a medical officer of the same unit, died in an encounter with 94IB.*
