Army blames rebels for civilians’ deaths

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) slammed the New People’s Army (NPA) for allegedly murdering three civilians in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental early this week.
The Army claimed that the NPA violated the Anti-Terrorism Law when they gunned down Jimmer Fundador, and Romeo Dungo-an, who were swine traders from La Libertad town; and Nail Vargas.

On July 21, 2020, Fundador and Dungo-an were heading towards Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on a motorcycle when they were waylaid by armed suspects at Sitio Mandi-e, Barangay Magsaysay.

The scene of the crime is also the area where the fatal ambush on Negros Oriental police officers happened three years ago.

Four days before the said attack, Vargas’s bullet-riddled body was also found at Sitio Agpalali, Barangay Sandayao on July 18.

Amid the killings being attributed to rebels, Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd IBde commander, assured that the Army and the police are in control of the situation.

“We assure everyone that despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic we have today, we will not put our guards down and allow the NPAs in sowing fear to the communities with their illegal activities in the area,” he said.

Pasaporte said they deployed troops, along with the police, to conduct pursuit operations against the suspects.