Mayor urges rebels to stop the killings

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A man was killed on the spot, while another was seriously wounded, after they were gunned down late Saturday afternoon by riding-in-tandem suspects, believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA), at Bario Da-an in Barangay Guinpana-an, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the fatality as 56-year-old Jerry Torga, a resident of the said area; while the wounded was identified as 34-year-old Leonardo Villagracia, a resident of Barangay Montilla, also in the said municipality.

Moises Padilla municipal police chief, Police Chief Inspector Joshua Villasis, said Torga was sitting beside the road, when four individuals on two motorcycles approached him and opened fire.

Villagracia, who happened to pass the area, was also hit as he attempted to flee.

The gunmen boarded their motorcycles and sped off, leaving Torga dead on the spot, while concerned residents rushed Villagracia to a hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds across his body.

Villasis added, they recovered 10 empty casings of .45 caliber ammunition from the crime scene.

In response, Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña condemned the attack and appealed to NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command spokesperson Ka Frank Fernandez to “stop their lawless activities against his townspeople.”

He said the NPA’s actions in the municipality sows terror and fear for residents and, if they are serious with the ongoing peace talks, they should immediately halt their “bloodthirsty” activities./DGB, WDJ