• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for a series of armed operations in Negros Occidental, including the killing of two farmers and the seizure of firearms in northern Negros.
In separate statements, the NPA’s South Central, Southwest and Northern Negros commands said the operations were carried out in September and October as part of what it described as its campaign against intelligence assets and other criminal activities.
The NPA-South Central Negros said it executed a death sentence against alias “Dioleto” in Sitio Capaklan, Barangay Santol, Binalbagan on Oct. 5 as reported by the police.
The group accused the victim of serving as an intelligence asset of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Armed Forces of the Philippines tasked with monitoring NPA activities in forests and sugarcane plantations and reporting information to government security forces.
In another incident, the NPA-Southwest Negros said it executed alias “Natoy” as reported by the police in Purok 1, Barangay Yaoyao, Cauayan, on Oct. 4.
The NPA-Northern Negros claimed responsibility for an armed raid against Clint Aranas in Sitio Ma-aswa, Barangay General Luna, Toboso on Sept. 22.
The rebel group said it seized an M4, a Micro Galil, and a KG9 submachine gun.
The NPA-Northern Negros said it raided and disarmed Reymart Marquiz in Barangay Paitan, Escalante City on Sept. 29.
They claimed to have seized an M16 rifle with one magazine and 21 rounds of ammunition; a .45-caliber pistol with two magazines and 52 rounds; and an Ingram automatic pistol with two magazines and caliber .45 ammunition. | GPB
