Army blames rebels for Kabankalan killing

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) slammed the New People’s Army (NPA) for the alleged murder of a civilian at Barangay Carol-an, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental last Saturday.

Gilbert Garlit, 32, of the said village was shot dead by three unidentified armed men on July 25.

The victim was plowing his farm when the gunmen appeared, dragged, and shot him to death. He succumbed to three gunshot wounds in the head, back, and arm, police records showed.

According to the Army, Garlit is the third civilian allegedly killed by the rebels, following the deaths of Joelito Hilacio on June 13, and Randy Rociana on July 12, at Barangays Carabalan and Buenavista in Himamaylan City, respectively.

In a press statement, Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Guzman, 94th IB commander, said these killings are “barbaric, inhuman, and definitely unacceptable,” even as he expressed their sincerest sympathies to the families of the victims.