NPA Claims Killing of Farmer in Toboso

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for the killing of a 49-year-old farmer in Sitio Bairan, Barangay General Luna, Toboso, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, April 15, alleging he was a military asset.

In a statement, the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-NPA also accused the victim of involvement in past murder cases and claimed he opposed the revolutionary movement.

Police said the victim was resting inside his home when three unidentified suspects chased and shot him dead.

First Lt. Dan Carlo Samoza, civil military operations officer of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion, denied the victim had any links to government forces.

“It was falsely claimed by the NPA,” Samoza said, adding that the incident was not insurgency-related.

Samoza said the NPA is exploiting incidents like this as propaganda, citing the group’s reduced manpower and morale following the dismantling of its Northern Negros Front.

Last month, the 79th IB clashed with suspected NPA rebels in the same area, leaving three soldiers injured and displacing more than 100 families.