• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island have instituted a bloody purge of alleged military informants, a Philippine Army official said.
Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said in a statement Nov. 18 that some of those killed have relatives or family members, who are still active members of the NPA.
The NPA Romeo Nanta Command issued separate statements claiming responsibility for the death of Raul Loterio and Jomy Pelarta Nov. 13 and 6, respectively in Barangay Santol, Binalbagan, and Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
Both were accused by rebel remnants as spies of the 94th Infantry Battalion.
The NPA also claimed responsibility for the recent summary executions of a barangay councilman and a purok chairwoman in Cauayan, whom they also accused as military informants, an allegation strongly denied by the 15th Infantry Battalion.
Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara earlier strongly condemned the separate killings of the two barangay officials.
Dumosmog said their focused military operations against the NPA remnants are being conducted without any let-up.
The spate of killings perpetrated by rebel remnants came after the dismantling of five NPA guerrilla fronts in Negros Island, where almost all the top officials died in gunbattles with the Philippine Army since last year.
The group of Roger Fabillar 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 more than P1 million in bounty for the arrest, capture, and conviction of Fabillar, who is facing a string of murder cases. | GB
