NPA claims murder of three civilians in Calatrava

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The New People’s Army (NPA) has owned up to the killing of three civilians in Calatrava, Negros Occidental this month.

In a statement released over the weekend, the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-NPA (RJPC-NPA) said that it has received complaints against these victims, prompting the group to sanction them.

The first incident happened in Barangay Lalong on December 2, killing Welfredo Brasona, 57, of Barangay Ani-e, while he was resting along with his two helpers after cutting some trees in the area.

It was followed by the murder of 48-year-old Angelo Dela Cruz in Barangay Marcelo on December 9.

Five unidentified armed persons stormed into Dela Cruz’s house and shot him when he failed to show a firearm that they were looking for.

The recent incident was the death of a 62-year-old farmer in Barangay Marcelo on December 14.

Police Major Ronald Santillan, town police chief, said that seven unidentified persons arrived and shot the victim at home.

Ka Cecil Estrella, RJPC-NPA spokesperson, said that these victims were allegedly tasked to monitor the movements of the NPA.

With this development, Santillan said that they now have a lead on the group behind these incidents.

However, he said that it is still subject to validation and further investigation to identify the perpetrators.

He noted that they are in constant coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure security in insurgency-affected villages or areas in the town.

Early this year, the same group also claimed the murder of a village chief and two other civilians in the town.

A P1 million bounty was offered to arrest the perpetrators and identify other suspects who were involved in these incidents.