By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The New People’s Army (NPA) Mount Cansermon Command, which is based in central Negros, yesterday admitted to the recent killings of a former member and a suspected informant in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

In a statement forwarded by spokesperson Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, the group claimed they killed Jaymark Petogo for supposedly becoming a military intelligence asset for the Philippine Army.

Magbuelas said Petogo surrendered to the army in 2012, along with his wife.

Petogo was then provided assistance by the Philippine Army in exchange for “betraying” their group by providing law enforcement with information and allegations of harassment in the city’s barangays Mahalang and Buenavista; along with alleged instances in Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan.

The NPA spokesperson also claimed barangay officials approached them, complaining about Petogo’s abuses to the local population, where he reportedly nearly killed an individual during a local dance celebration in Barangay Bi-ao.

The NPA also claimed responsibility for the death of Rey Mark Dagohoy last February 18, for giving information to their group’s whereabouts which led to the encounter at Sitio Cunalom in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City in December of last year.

Magbuelas further claimed the emergency landing made by a Philippine Air Force (PAF) UH-1 Huey helicopter in Barangay Pilar, Hinigaran was a result of friendly fire, stating the pilot was hit in the incident.

However, both the AFP and PAF already stated the helicopter experienced technical problems, which prompted the pilots to land in an empty field. The crew of the helicopter all walked away from the incident without injury./DGB, WDJ