Calatrava Mayor Denies NPA Allegations Over Killing

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Marilyn Era of Calatrava, Negros Occidental, refuted allegations from the New People’s Army accusing her of employing a farmer killed in Barangay Minapasok as one of her “goons.”

“I want to make it clear that the allegation claiming the victim was one of my so-called ‘goons,’ as stated by a representative of the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command (RJPC)-NPA, is a big lie and a baseless claim,” Era said in a statement.

Police said the victim, alias “Tolendoy,” was outside his house with his brother when four unidentified armed men shot him several times at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The victim sustained 10 gunshot wounds: one each to the head, chest, waist and right foot, four in the left thigh, and two in the right thigh.

Recovered from the scene were six fired cartridges of a .45-caliber firearm and a deformed slug from an unknown firearm.

In a statement Thursday, RJPC-NPA spokesperson Ka Cecil Estrella claimed the victim was an intelligence asset and military hitman, and alleged he was part of the mayor’s private armed group.

Era identified the victim as Leonardo Nepalar, a job order employee assigned to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program, and said he had been working in the uplands before she became mayor.

“Personally, I want to clarify as the mayor of this town that I do not have the financial capacity to keep and maintain goons, and I don’t need them,” she said.

She added that since she began serving in 2007, residents can attest she never resorted to such measures.

“I am already 73 years old and a grandmother — what would I even do with goons?” Era said.

“I only have security agents or escorts as mandated by law.”

She expressed condolences to Nepalar’s family, calling the incident a “brutal and senseless killing.”

She urged the public not to believe unverified and baseless claims.

“I have served with integrity,” Era said.

“Many have tried to test me and tarnish my name, but I have remained honest in both work and behavior toward the people.”

She cited her recent election victory, where she won by over 26,000 votes, as proof of her constituents’ support.

Meanwhile, 1st Lt. Dan Carlo Samoza, civil military officer of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion, said the NPA’s claims are nothing new.

“It just shows their desperation, useless existence, and their barbarism,” he said.

While the case is under investigation, Samoza noted that the NPA often claims responsibility for incidents to incite fear, even if they are not directly involved.