• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Desperate to get new recruits, remnants of the New People’s Army have resorted to terrorizing their former comrades and supporters in southern Negros, even to the extent of killing them for refusing to rejoin the armed struggle, revealed a ranking official of the 15th Infantry Battalion.
Lt. Col. Elmar Salvador, 15th Infantry Battalion commander, disclosed that five innocent civilians were killed by remnants of the NPA in southern Negros, especially in Cauayan and Kabankalan City, over the past two months alone, which he strongly condemned.
The Armando Sumayang Jr. Command – New People’s Army (ASJC-NPA) have issued separate statements claiming responsibility for the death of Joshua Rabor in Barangay Camalanda-an, Cauayan and Garde Francisco in Brgy. Camansi, Kabankalan City.
Salvador also disclosed that rebel remnants were also responsible for the recent killing of a 34-year-old purok chairwoman in Brgy. Lina-on, Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
He identified the group of rebel remnants led by Ka Kalbo as the one behind the death of a barangay official in Brgy. Lina-on, Cauayan.
Salvador said the rebel remnants are aggressive in their recruitment activities, as they are even forcing their former supporters to become Red fighters. Those who do not join have been subjected to their terror campaign, citing a case in Brgy. Camalanda-an, where a former rebel was killed.
But the ASJC-NPA claimed that Rabor was a military asset of the 15IB.
Salvador, in a radio interview, said their focused military operations, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, are being conducted without let-up to neutralize rebel remnants who are bent on terrorizing the people who are not supporting them.
The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-New People’s Army (RJPC-NPA) has also claimed responsibility for the death of Anacito Mahinay alyas ‘Dongkoy’ kagahapon, on October 2 at Sitio Basag, Barangay Tigbao, Calatrava, while the Leonardo Panaligan Command-New People’s Army (LPC-NPA) imposed a death penalty on Ryan Librea and Pidio Kalderon in Barangays Binalbagan and Bucalan, all in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
All three victims were accused as military informants.
Salvador admitted that he was alarmed by the spate of killings perpetrated by rebel remnants in southern Negros.
He also stressed the importance of community support, in reporting the presence of any armed groups, in their areas.*
