NPA linked to rebel returnee’s slay

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The New People’s Army (NPA) is being tagged in the killing of a rebel returnee in Barangay Cambayobo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental last Friday.

This, after four unidentified armed men reportedly introduced themselves as NPA members after allegedly shooting Jimmy De Leon, 23, of Binalbagan town, according to Police Major Lumyaen Lidawan, Calatrava town police chief, citing the statement of the victim’s co-workers who witnessed the incident.

Lidawan said the victim was loading sugarcane crops on a truck, when the armed men probably waited for him and shot him at close range.

“Pagkababa niya ng truck, lumapit lang yung gunmen sa kanya at binaril siya,” the police chief added.

Police recovered from the scene an empty shell of M16 rifle and .45 caliber firearm.

De Leon suffered three gunshot wounds in the chest and was declared dead on arrival at a hospital.

Lidawan said that De Leon, who was first identified as “Jimmy Dela Cruz” surrendered to the Army two years ago.

In fact, the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), in a statement, said that De Leon was a former member of the NPA in northern Negros.

De Leon just returned to his relatives in Calatrava town last month after visiting his hometown.

“Binalikan siguro ng dating kasamahan kasi nag lie low na siya,” Lidawan said.

However, they could not confirm yet if indeed the rebels were behind the incident, though they initially considered it as insurgency related.