Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña said to be behind the claims

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor, La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, and Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo each recently rebuffed allegations claiming they were linked with the New People’s Army (NPA).

Aside from denying such allegations, the La Castellana mayor contended it would be “impossible” for her to be associated with the insurgent group as she is a former police officer, along with being married to an active-duty police colonel.

For Garcia-Yulo, she acknowledged not siding with the military but said the residents of her town are afraid of the NPA.

All three pointed blame towards Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña.

The Moises Padilla vice mayor reiterated her belief that Peña was behind the earlier ambush that claimed the lives of local officials, incumbent Municipal Councilor Michael Garcia and former Association of Barangay Captains President Mark Garcia, in the town’s Barangay Inolingan. In addition, Malabor claimed the Moises Padilla mayor masterminded the 2015 murder of former Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Renato Malabor, Sr.

The three called on President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the area to intervene.

Earlier this year, a list was sent to members of the media from an anonymous source listing 72 individuals from Negros Occidental allegedly linked with the NPA, which also included several incumbent politicians.

Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, Colonel Benedict Arevalo, confirmed some of the names match with a separate list compiled by the Armed Forces of the Philippines./DGB, WDJ