NPA claims village official’s killing in Cauayan

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Armando Sumayang Jr. Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) Southwest Negros Guerrilla Front claimed responsibility for the killing of a barangay councilor in Barangay Tambad, Cauayan, Negros Occidental on November 3.

In a statement released on Saturday, November 8, rebel spokesperson Ka Andrea Guerrero said the victim was reportedly active in activities of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and served as a military asset.

The victim was gunned down by six unidentified armed men outside his residence.

The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) condemned the killing and has created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to conduct a thorough probe.

The NPA also claimed responsibility for the killing of a 34-year-old purok chairwoman of Purok 5 in Barangay Lina-on, Cauayan on October 14, and a 63-year-old former barangay captain in Barangay Patun-an, Calatrava on October 6.

Meanwhile, the Romeo Nanta Command–NPA claimed the killing of another alleged military asset in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City on November 6.

Police Lt. Col. Anthony Grande, chief of Himamaylan City Police Station, said the victim, identified only as “Joemie,” was shot dead by four unidentified armed men in front of his pregnant live-in partner while they were having dinner.

Despite the group’s claim, Grande said it remains an allegation, although it will aid in identifying the actual perpetrators.

He added that the victim had no record of a rape case, contrary to the NPA’s claim, and clarified that he only served a sentence for a frustrated homicide case in 2017.