- GILBERT BAYORAN
A 65-year-old man in Brgy. Pinggot, Ilog, Negros Occidental, was the fifth victim of summary execution in Negros Island, being carried out and claimed by various units of the New People’s Army Apolinario Gatmaitan Command.
The NPA Armando Sumayang Command claimed responsibility for the killing of another civilian it tagged as a “military informant” Jan. 28, in Sitio Tugas, Brgy. Pinggot in Ilog.
The victim, identified by the Ilog Police Station as Silas Granada, 65, succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head. He was the fifth victim in the series of summary executions in Negros Island, carried out and claimed by various rebel units, this month alone.
The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, meanwhile, yesterday slammed the communist terrorist group for the continued killing of innocent civilians.
In a statement, Ka Andrea Guerrero, spokesperson of the Armando Sumayang Command, alleged that Granada, alias Nacar, served as a military intelligence asset, whom she accused of engaging in land grabbing activities.
Guerrero also claimed that a 45 caliber pistol with four magazines containing ammunition, and a Magnum caliber 22 revolver, were confiscated by members of the Armando Sumayang Command, who carried out the imposition of death penalty against Granada.
Based on initial investigations of the Ilog police, a group of about 30 armed men visited the house of the victim, where heated confrontations ensued and later resulted in the fatal shooting of Granada.
The NPA-LPC also issued a statement claiming responsibility for the killing of a civilian it alleged was a member the defunct Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade in Negros Occidental.
Ka JB Regalado, spokesman of the NPA-LPC, justified the killing of Ramel Europa, a member of the RPA-ABB from 1998 to 2015, for the latter’s alleged links to numerous illegal activities.
Europa, 47, as reported by the police, was found dead with a gunshot wound Jan. 23, beside a creek in Sitio Sambag, Brgy. Manghanoy, La Castellana.
The police recovered a fired cartridge of a .45 caliber pistol at the scene of incident.
The NPA Mt. Cansermon Command also claimed responsibility for the death of Regie “Gang Gang” dela Cruz, whom it accused as an active military asset, Jan. 25 in Sitio Maiti, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City.
Early this month, the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command 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./GB
