• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two more civilians have been added to the list of victims of the atrocities perpetrated by remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island for a year now.
Almost all of the victims were tagged as military spies by the communist-terrorist group.
In a statement, the Armando Sumayang Jr. Command claimed responsibility for the death of Renante “Bulantoy” Vedarte, 39, at Purok Tuburan, Barangay Tapi in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Feb. 23.
They alleged that Vedarte served as a “guide” of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) during an encounter in Purok Maghirupay on April 25, 2025, which led to the death of seven of their comrades.
Police investigation showed the victim was about to drive his motorcycle when unidentified men arrived and shot him in the head.
A joint pursuit operation of the 15IB and troopers of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-Negros Island Region led to an armed confrontation with the fleeing assailants.
One of them was reported injured as indicated by blood-stained slippers recovered at the scene of the incident.
Further police investigation led to the identification of two fleeing suspects as alias “R-Jay”, and alias “Makoy/Akiro”, the latter a resident of Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
The Roselyn Jean Pelle Comman also claimed the death of “Big Boy” Ferrer on Feb. 26 at Sitio Lumanab in Barangay Dian-ay, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
They claimed that the victim was engaged in illegal activities.
Police investigation showed the victim was gunned down outside his residence.
He succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, including a fatal injury in the head.
The Escalante City police recovered from the scene of the incident eight fired cartridges of caliber .45 pistol.
Peace advocates have been calling on the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Island Region to investigate the spate of killings of civilians.
The National Task Force-Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said labeling civilians as “spies” without proof makes them targets and is terrorism, not armed struggle.
Last month, 74-year-old Leonor Aguit was killed by NPA remnants also in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City.
According to the NTF-ELCAC, 28 civilians have been summarily killed in Negros since March last year. | GB
