• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Remnants of New People’s Army in Negros Island have instituted a bloody purge targeting alleged military informants, a ranking military official disclosed on Tuesday.
Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said some of the innocent civilians who were killed have relatives or family members who are still active members of the New People’s Army.
The Romeo Nanta Command – New People’s Army has issued separate statements claiming responsibility for the death of Raul Loterio and Jomy Pelarta on November 13 and 6, respectively in Barangay Santol, Binalbagan, and in Sitio Sig-ang, Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City. Both were accused by rebel remnants as ‘spies’ of the 94th Infantry Battalion.
The Armando Sumayang Jr. Command of the New People’s Army earlier claimed responsibility for recent summary executions of a barangay kagawad and a purok chairwoman in Cauayan, who they accused as military informants, allegations which were strongly denied by the Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion.
Mayor John Rey Tabujara earlier strongly condemned the separate killings of two barangay officials who were not combatants, but innocent civilians, in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
Dumosmog said focused military operations against the remnants of the NPA in Negros is being conducted without any let up.
The spate of killings perpetrated by rebel remnants came after the dismantling of five NPA guerilla fronts in Negros Island, where almost all its top officials died in gunbattles with the Philippine Army since last year.
More than 15 civilians, including former rebels, were victims of summary executions carried out by rebel remnants in northern Negros alone, since early this year, military and police records show.
The group of Roger Fabillar, with aliases of Arnel Tapang/Jhong/Nono/ Domeng, was tagged as behind the series of killings in the upland areas of Calatrava, Toboso, Cadiz, Manapla, Victorias City, and E.B. Magalona.
Authorities are offering a bounty of more than P1 million for the arrest, capture, and conviction of Fabillar, who is facing a string of murder cases.*
