NPA claims ambush-slay, “liquidation of civilians”

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The New People’s Army yesterday claimed responsibility for the ambush-slay of two civilians and a retired Army soldier in Negros Island Region, which also elicited condemnation from state security officials.

The Roselyn Pelle Command (RPC) of the NPA-Northern Negros issued a statement claiming responsibility for the ambush-slay of sugar planter Norberto "Bebe" Lumayno and his driver, Danilo Braga, on June 22 at Barangay Minapasok of Calatrava town in Negros Occidental.

Cecil Estrella, spokesperson of the RPC, declared that Lumayno was facing charges before the revolutionary court for his alleged land grabbing activities and of using armed goons — charges vehemently denied by the family of the victim in a local radio interview.

The ambush-slay of two civilians was followed by an encounter at Barangay Cambayobo, also in Calatrava, while the 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers were pursuing the fleeing rebels.

The Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC) of the NPA in central Negros has claimed responsibility for the liquidation of former Philippine Army sergeant Ronnie Montejo in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental on June 20.

Ka JB Regalado, spokesperson of the LPC, in a statement issued by the local rebel group, accused Montejo of involvement in multiple murder cases, in the deaths of their two comrades, “Ka Keven” and “Ka Roselyn Pelle”, and injuries to another one in 2001.

Regalado also linked Montejo to the capture of two other NPA members, being a former intelligence operative of the 11th Infantry Battalion. He also charged Montejo of harassing some farmers and residents at Barangays Lumapao and Malaiba in Canlaon City.

Montejo was riding a motorcycle when he was gunned down by three suspects, believed to be members of the NPA Special Partisan Unit, two days after the rebel group also raided a police station in Maasin town, Iloilo.

Regalado even congratulated the NPA bandits who carried out the killing of Montejo, as ordered by the revolutionary court.

The Army's 3rd Infantry Division has condemned the killing of Lumayno and Braga, as well as of Montejo, which they described as a “barbaric act”.

Major General Jon Aying, 3rd Infantry Division commander, called the NPA rebels, who were behind the killing of civilians, as “terrorists,” who can no longer be controlled by their leaders who are currently negotiating abroad on peace with the Duterte government.

Colonel Eliezer Losañes, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who supervises security operations in the NIR, said the NPA are doing these things for their own interest and the people of Negros are now on the losing end.

“The people should stop providing support to this group so that law enforcers can arrest them, and justice is served,” Losañe added. (FREEMAN)