• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A P1-million bounty is still being offered for the arrest of elusive and notorious rebel hitman Roger Fabillar, also known as “Arnel Tapang,” “Jhong” and “Nono,” one of the remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front.
Fabillar, who is facing multiple murder cases in court, is one of the suspects in the killing of Rodel Nobleza, Renato Estrebillo, and Lalong barangay chairman Benjamin Javoc, and Cambayobo barangay councilman Benito Hubahib, all in Calatrava last year.
In a statement, the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion said it has recovered a caliber .45 pistol with silencer owned by Fabillar during its recent focused military operations in northern Negros.
Meanwhile, the 303rd Infantry Brigade strongly condemned the killing spree of innocent civilians carried out and admitted by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Occidental.
“These acts of violence are not only abhorrent but also a gross violation of human rights and the principles of humanity,” Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said in a statement.
Remnants of the NPA have claimed the deaths of eight civilians, whom they accused as military informants, since last month.
“The perpetrators of such heinous crimes must be held accountable and brought to justice to ensure that these innocent lives have not been lost in vain,” Edralin said.
He also called on all Negrenses to report the presence of NPA in their respective communities, and let their voices resonate in demanding an end to the senseless killings of innocent civilians. | GB
