By CESAR JOLITO III

The New People’s Army (NPA) in Southwest Negros has confirmed that their unit executed a woman accused of being an informant and collaborator of the government’s anti-insurgency task force at Barangay Lina-on in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town on October 14.

The NPA’s Armando Sumayang Jr. Command (ASJC) identified the victim as 34-year-old Maricel Pantajo, who they alleged had led government troops to a previous raid against their group in June this year.

According to the NPA statement released by its spokesperson, Ka Andrea Guerrero, Pantajo’s alleged tip-off to the 15th Infantry Battalion resulted in an armed encounter, which the group claimed caused trauma to several minors in the area.

The NPA further accused Pantajo of being an “active local agent” of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

They alleged that she was involved in threatening residents, coercing them into surrendering in exchange for money, and participating in what the NPA described as irregularities in the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and Barangay Development Programs.

The NPA said the killing was a form of “revolutionary justice” and a warning to others allegedly working with government forces in anti-insurgency efforts in southern Negros.

On October 14, Pantajo, a purok chairman, was shot dead by five unidentified persons at around 6:30 p.m. at the mountainous area of Sitio Mana-uban.

Police recovered five slugs and cartridges of 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rifles used in the crime./CJ, WDJ