NPA owns up killing of businessman in Toboso

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police now have the identities of some of the 15 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who killed a businessman at his house in Barangay Bug-ang, Toboso, Negros Occidental last Tuesday.

This, after the NPA reported its first attack this year in the province, claiming the death of 43-year-old Juvinie Sarona.

In a statement released yesterday, the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command – Northern Negros Guerrilla Front of the NPA (RJPC-NPA), said that they opened the year by punishing Sarona, whom they linked to the Sagay 9 massacre that happened in 2018.

Ka Cecil Estrella, RJPC-NPA spokesperson, said that a unit of RJPC-NPA ambushed Sarona and burned down a tractor owned by his father.

The rebel group said that they have also recovered various firearms and ammunition from Sarona’s residence such as an M2 carbine with four magazines and 51 bullets, two long and a short M16 magazines and 76 bullets, a. 45 (Colt MK IV) with two magazines and four bullets, .357 caliber revolver with four bullets, and a homemade shotgun with five bullets.

Identification cards and gadgets with intelligence value were also seized.

Estrella alleged that Sarona led a gun-for-hire group and was also reportedly involved in land grabbing.

“This military action conducted by the RJPC-NPA was part of the guerrilla front’s celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP),” the rebel group said.

It is also a portrayal of the front’s resolve to recover from previous losses and rebuild the mass base, they added.

Major Jun Ray Batadlan, Toboso police chief, said that Sarona had no criminal records with the police, contrary to the allegations of the NPA.

Batadlan said that the NPA only made such allegations since the victim was a well-known supporter for peace, helping government forces in its programs for peace and order.

He said that they are eyeing to file charges against the perpetrators in the coming weeks, as soon as the family finds the courage to pursue the case.

Sarona was having dinner with his uncle when five of the 15 persons stormed his house and shot him. The perpetrators then burned a tractor which was partially damaged, according to Batadlan.

Batadlan said there was no confirmation on the link of Sarona in the Sagay 9 massacre in Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City that killed nine sugarcane workers.

“Mga alegasyon lang nila tanan,” he added.

The police had earlier filed murder complaints against those allegedly involved in the Sagay 9 massacre.

Batadlan said that the group behind Sarona’s murder was reportedly the same group involved in the killings in the neighboring town of Calatrava in the past year.