• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A unit of the New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for the killing of a 53-year-old farmer in Barangay Minautok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, last May 13.
Reports from the Calatrava Police said the victim, alias ‘Gerry’ was inside his home preparing dinner for his family when armed men entered their home and immediately shot the victim at close range.
Witnesses reported that the perpetrators fled toward the mountainous areas of Calatrava following the shooting.
The incident was reported to the authorities by the victim’s son shortly after the attack.
In a release, the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command (RJPC) of the Northern Negros Guerilla Front admitted to carrying out the ‘punitive action’ against the victim, alleging a series of crimes against the people as the justification for the execution.
The rebels said they punished the victim primarily for the alleged rape of his own 18-year-old daughter, who is a person with disability.
The RJPC further accused him of being an active intelligence asset for the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army stationed in Calatrava.
The rebel group claimed that alias ‘Gerry’ was instrumental in helping the military meet quotas by falsely identifying local civilians as members or supporters of the NPA.*
