Rebel returnee shot dead, teen injured in Negros

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – A 27-year-old former New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed, and a 19-year-old woman was injured after they were shot by two unidentified armed men in Sitio Sinuwayan, Barangay Camalandaan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Monday.

According to a police report, the male victim had attended a birthday celebration and was having a drinking session before deciding to sleep at the celebrant’s house due to intoxication.

A few minutes later, the perpetrators arrived and told him to step outside the house.

As he approached the door, the suspects, reportedly armed with long firearms, suddenly shot him multiple times, resulting in his immediate death.

The teenager, a family member of the celebrant who was standing near the doorway, was accidentally hit in the left arm by a stray bullet and is now recuperating at a hospital.

Recovered from the crime scene were five fired cartridge cases of 5.56mm and one fired cartridge case of 7.62mm.

Authorities said the incident was only reported to police on Tuesday.

Police Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), confirmed that the male victim had been out on bail for a motornapping case in the area.

Malong added that the incident is under investigation, with police looking into insurgency-related motives or links to his previous criminal case.

The victim’s family reportedly refused to subject the body to a post-mortem examination and chose to proceed with burial rites.