By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) strongly believes the New People’s Army (NPA) was responsible for the murder of Benito Hubahib, a barangay kagawad of Cambayobo in Negros Occidental’s Calatrava town last Wednesday, February 22.

Lt. Colonel J-Jay Javines, 79IB commander, said they are just waiting for the statement of the NPA claiming responsibility over the murder.

Javines said Hubahib had previously served as a witness in a criminal case filed against a captured NPA leader.

The 79IB commander noted the barangay kagawad is also very active and supportive of the government projects to combat the insurgency in the community.

Information released by the Calatrava municipal police showed that the gunmen possibly used a .45 caliber pistol and a 5.56 caliber ammunition from an M16 assault rifle to kill Hubahib as empty shells were recovered at the crime scene.

On Wednesday night, six armed men broke inside Hubahib’s home and shot him multiple times, killing him on the spot.

Meanwhile, the town police have yet to formally comment if the murder was insurgency-related./DGB, WDJ