The bounty offered for the arrest of rebel leader Arnel Tapang, who is linked to numerous murder cases in northern Negros, may increase to as much as P500,000, an Army official said.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, 79th Infantry Battalion commander, said that the bounty pledged by numerous donors reached P300,000, as of this time, after a donor pledged to give P200,000.
Tapang and other remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front were linked to numerous killings since last year in northern Negros, especially in the hinterlands of Calatrava and Toboso, where they are operating.
Lalong barangay captain Benjamen Javoc was the latest victim of rebel atrocities in northern Negros, where the suspects also ransacked his house and took away P20,000 in cash, Javines said.
He added that the family of Javoc is determined to press charges against Tapang and members of his group.
P/Lt. Judesses Catalogo, spokesperson of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, yesterday said that they are now preparing the documents for the filing of criminal complaints against the NPA members, who are allegedly responsible for the death of Javoc.
He said they were able to get sworn statements from witnesses.
Catalogo said that witnesses were able to identify the rebel suspects through the pictures presented to them by authorities.
As to the killing of Cabcab barangay chairman Danilo Dautil in Isabela, Catalogo said the family of the victim also expressed their intension to file charges against the suspects.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said they will not stop hunting the NPA remnants in Western and Central Visayas, who refuse to surrender.
Arevalo said the NPA remnants have three options – to surrender and live peacefully with their families, be arrested for international human rights violations, or be killed in a gunbattle./GB
