NPA owns up two killings

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The New People’s Army (NPA) claimed the death of two persons in separate areas in Negros Occidental last week.

The recent killing was reported in Ilog town on Jan. 28, 2023 wherein Silas Granada, 65, of Barangay Pinggot was gunned down by around 30 unidentified armed persons outside his house.

Based on police investigation, a group of persons armed with high-powered firearms visited Granada’s house. A confrontation then occurred which resulted in a shooting incident.

According to the police, the victim allegedly had threats from the illegal settlers who occupied land that he inherited.

In a statement dated Jan. 29, Ka Andrea Guerrero, spokesperson of Armando Sumayang Jr. Command of NPA, Southwest Guerilla Front, said that Granada was an alleged intelligence asset of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who reportedly claimed land in two sitios or sub-villages in the said barangay.

The NPA said that there were also complaints against Granada in the area.

Meanwhile, the Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC) of NPA Central Negros Guerrilla Front also claimed the death of Jose Rammel Europa, 47, of Barangay Camandag, La Castellana town.

Ka JB Regalado, spokesperson of LPC, said that Europa was an alleged member of Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB) from 1998 to 2015.

Residents complained that Europa used threats and violence against civilians in the area, particularly in Barangay Camandag, according to the rebel group.

Europa was found lifeless beside a creek at Sitio Sambag, Barangay Manghanoy on Jan. 23.

Police earlier tagged a relative of Europa as a person of interest in the incident, prior to the admission of the NPA.