• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The New People’s Army Leonardo Panaligan Command yesterday 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, making him the fourth victim of the rebel’s summary execution activities this month.
In a statement, Ka JB Regalado, spokesman of the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command, justified the killing of Ramel Europa, a 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 on January 23, beside a creek in Sitio Sambag, Brgy. Manghanoy, La Castellana, with a gunshot wound.
The police recovered a fired cartridge of a .45 caliber pistol at the scene of incident.
But a former RPA-ABB member, who requested not to be identified, clarified that Europa is not a member of their organization.
Within a period of three weeks, the NPA Army has claimed to have summarily executed three civilians in Negros Island, including a barangay kagawad that they accused as a “military informant.”
The NPA Mt. Cansermon Command on Friday also issued a 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.
In a statement, 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 also reported the confiscation of two fragmentation grenades from dela Cruz. The NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command 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.*
