Rebels claim farmer’s slay in Moises Padilla

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) Central Negros Guerrilla Front owned up to the killing of a farmer in Barangay Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental last Sunday.

In a statement released yesterday, Ka JB Regalado, LPC-NPA spokesperson, said that 63-year-old Danilo Bedaja was accused by some residents in the area of alleged theft and land grabbing.

The rebel group also alleged that Bedaja had a firearm which he allegedly used in threatening the people in the area.

Regalado said that the victim has been warned in 2016 to leave the place. But he returned after a few years and allegedly continued his actions.

Regalado said that the group reached out again to the victim, but he chose to continue his activities against the people up to now.

Based on police investigation, the victim left their house and went to his farm on Sunday afternoon when gunshots were then heard by his son from a distance.

When he checked, he saw his father lying on the ground with gunshot wounds.

Aside from this, police have also previously recorded three insurgency-related incidents in the town this year.