• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Saturday, Feb. 7 denounced the killing of Leonora “Leonor” Anguit, a 74-year-old woman, by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
In a statement, Ernesto Torres Jr., executive director of NTF-ELCAC, said that Anguit was branded a “spy” and killed.
“Spy-tagging is not just a label — it is a death sentence,” he said.
Three men, who claimed to be NPA rebels, deliberately searched for Anguit, isolated her, and shot her at close range, at the residence of her sister on Feb. 4.
“This method is familiar and horrifying,” Torres said. “Accuse without proof, threaten without mercy, and kill without due process.”
The NTF-ELCAC official said Anguit’s supposed crime stemmed from NPA elements having previously used her property and later suffering losses in encounters with government forces.
“Instead of taking responsibility for their own actions, they turned their anger on an elderly civilian. Suspicion became a death warrant,” Torres said
Seven of the suspected rebels who occupied the house of Anguit were killed in an encounter with Philippine Army soldiers on April last year.
According to the NTF-ELCAC, “Anguit’s murder fits a documented pattern of systematic spy-tagging and liquidation in Negros”.
It noted that from early to late last year alone, 25 civilians from different walks of life— farmers, laborers, tricycle drivers, barangay officials, forest guards, vendors, and community leaders — were killed after being labeled “informants.”
“These killings were even claimed by NPA units and formations. That shows intent —and a disturbing pride in targeting unarmed people. This is not revolution. It is terror,” Torres said.
The NTF-ELCAC urged swift, coordinated action to prevent further deaths, asking the Philippine National Police to intensify manhunts, evidence-gathering, and case build-up to ensure arrests and strong prosecutions, the Department of Justice to fast-track inquests and prosecutions, prioritizing cases of summary execution and armed intimidation, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines and intelligence units to strengthen focused operations against armed groups conducting “liquidations,” especially in threatened barangays.
The task force also urged local government units and barangay councils to activate community protection mechanisms, establish safe reporting channels, and coordinate immediate security for residents under threat, expanded access to witness protection, emergency shelter, psychosocial support, and assistance for bereaved families.
“We urge citizens to report threats, harassment, or so-called ‘trials’ being conducted in communities,” Torres said. | GB
