- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Several hours after an encounter that resulted in the death of a suspected member of the New People’s Army, five alleged NPA hitmen took their revenge Aug. 5 on a civilian, who was tagged as a military informant, in Purok Inarawis, Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.
Initial investigations conducted by the Moises Padilla police showed that the five suspects, identified as Reynaldo and Marlo Catasio, Jesus Molena, Rolandi and Carmilito Juanites had dinner with the victim, Joemarie Benitez, and his family, prior to the incident.
After eating dinner, the suspects, who are members of the NPA Special Partisan Unit, invited Benitez to go with them outside.
Based on the testimonies of Erlinda Benitez, mother of the victim, she heard four gunshots and saw her son lying on the ground, while the suspects withdrew towards Sitio Agogolo in Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla, the police said.
Erlinda also told the Moises Padilla police that her son was accused of being a military spy.
The killing of Benitez, 28, a laborer, took place several hours after Army soldiers killed one of three suspected NPA rebels during an encounter in Sitio Cansimba, Brgy. Quintin Remo in the town.
The three rebels encountered by 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers were believed to be among the eight armed men fleeing from Army troopers in Brgy. Imelda, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Two firearms and a fragmentation grenade were among the war materials recovered by 62IB from the two encounter sites, aside from the body of the slain rebel./GB
