The New People’s Army strongly debunked military reports that the death of its leader, Romeo Nanta, was a result of an encounter in Sitio Medel, Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
“It was a cold-blooded murder, not an encounter,” the NPA claimed.
Ka Juanito Magbanua (Romeo Nanta), spokesperson of the AGC (Apolinario Gatmaitan Command) NPA Negros, was summarily killed by elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion after he was captured in the area, the terrorist group further claimed.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, reported that Nanta was killed after about 10 minutes of gunbattle with 94IB soldiers.
“Under the laws of war, Ka JM should have been accorded the status of hors de combat (combatants who are not in a position to fight). His rights should have been respected and treated with humanity,” the NPA stressed.
“Suffering from hypertension and arthritis, Ka JM chose to stay in Sitio Medel to closely monitor the situation of the masses while the NPA unit maneuvered away from the area after the October 6 encounter,” the NPA added.
“The AGC-NPA Negros, with the entire revolutionary movement, vows to exact justice for the cold-blooded murder of Ka Juanito Magbanua and for all victims of state terrorism perpetrated by the AFP and PNP by carrying on its intensive and extensive guerrilla warfare based on an ever widening and deepening mass base,” it further said./GB
