• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The New People’s Army (NPA) Leonardo Panaligan Command has claimed responsibility for the killing of village watchman Ronald Jacolbe in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on June 22.
Rebel spokesman Ka JB Regalado accused Jacolbe of allegedly serving as an intelligence asset of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion.
He was killed at Sitio Sumilang in Barangay Tacpao.
The rebel group also admitted the murder of a civilian in Toboso, Negros Occidental.
The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command said it carried out “a punitive action against Isagani Imalay, alias “Uko”,” whom they reported to be facing rape charges in Sitio Toril, Barangay Bandila.
Initial investigation of the Toboso police showed that seven unidentified men armed with high powered firearms were involved in the shooting of the victim.
One of the armed men shot the victim in the head while he was sitting outside the residence of his sister. He died on the spot.
While withdrawing from the scene of incident, the armed men fired their weapons.
Investigators later recovered nine fired cartridges of caliber .45 and 9mm pistols.
Rebel spokesperson Ka Cecille Estrella claimed that they recovered three firearms from the victim. | GB
