• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A suspected New People’s Army rebel, who was killed in encounters with Philippine Army soldiers on May 21, was linked to the series of liquidations of innocent civilians, accused as military informants, in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.
Richard de la Peña, alias Rocky, was involved in various crimes and human rights violations, specifically the murder of Albert Navaro Goles alias Tongkay, who was killed on April 24 in Sitio Coyaoyao, Barangay Inolingan in the same town, according to a statement issued by the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB).
The NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command earlier claimed responsibility for the killing of Goles, whom they accused as an informant of 62IB.
The cadaver of Dela Peña was left behind by his fleeing comrades, who figured in two successive encounters with 62IB soldiers in Sitios Inangaw and Saksak, all in Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla on Tuesday.
Soldiers also recovered an M16 assault rifle with two bandoleers containing three magazines of ammunition, a caliber .357 revolver, and a backpack containing subversive documents.
His cadaver has yet to be claimed by his family, according to the 62IB. | GB
