NPA claims two more killings in Escalante City, Negros Occidental

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The New People’s Army (NPA) claimed two more killings in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, targeting a chief barangay tanod and a construction worker in Barangay Pinapugasan on Feb. 28.

In a statement, the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-NPA claimed the murders of 61-year-old Eduardo and 42-year-old Jerry, tagging them as alleged armed military intelligence assets.

The rebel group alleged that Eduardo was a staunch intelligence asset in the locality, while Jerry was allegedly responsible for an encounter in the village that killed two rebels and a farmer on Feb. 21, 2024.

Firearms allegedly confiscated from the victims were two .45-caliber pistols and .357-caliber pistols with ammunition.

Police Capt. Lindsey Caraballe, deputy chief of the Escalante City Police Station, said seven unidentified persons who shot Jerry were believed to be the same perpetrators who also killed the tanod at the barangay hall.

The tanod killing happened minutes before another gun attack was carried out against Jerry, witnessed by his wife and child.

Caraballe said the city has recorded three insurgency-related incidents in February, with the first case on Feb. 26 killing a farmer in Barangay Dian-ay.

He said police are strengthening their coordination with the Philippine Army following these incidents.