MANILA, Philippines — Four suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas shot dead a leader of an indigenous peoples group in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon on Saturday morning.
Sammy Diwangan, 45, was with his son John, 9, when he was killed by alleged members of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front Malayag in Barangay Canangaan.
Diwangan, head of the indigenous peoples mandatory representatives, was a vocal critic of the communist group’s recruitment activities, according to 1st Lt. Ken Cabbigat, civil military operations officer of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion.
A former NPA guerrilla who recently surrendered to authorities said they planned to kill Diwangan.
“When I was the commander of the NPA-Sentro De Grabidad Thunder of Guerrilla Front 6, we plotted to kill Diwangan because he hampered our mission to expand our forces in Barangay Canangaan,” the former rebel, identified as alias Cardo, was quoted telling the military.
Diwangan’s son told probers he saw four armed men walking toward him and his father, prompting him to run away.
He said he heard gunfire as he escaped from the scene.
The boy was referred to the local social worker and development office to help him recover from trauma resulting from the incident.