By CESAR JOLITO III
Two separate units of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Occidental have issued statements claiming responsibility for the recent killings of two men in the towns of Binalbagan and Calatrava, whom they alleged were intelligence assets of government forces.
The Romeo Nanta Command – NPA (RNC-NPA) South Central Negros Guerrilla Front admitted responsibility for the fatal shooting of 58-year-old Marlo Galan, also known as “Panoy,” in Binalbagan’s Barangay Bi-ao yesterday morning.
Galan, a land overseer, local pastor and member of the village peace panel (lupon), was reportedly supervising workers at a campsite in Sitio Mag-anay Uno when he was approached and shot by two unidentified armed individuals, Binalbagan police said.
In a statement, RNC-NPA spokesperson Ka Dionesio Magbuelas alleged that Galan was a former Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit member and an active intelligence asset for the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion.
The group also claimed he was involved in a January 30 military operation in Barangay Bi-ao that led to the death of two NPA members, including ranking leader Reynalde “Ka Amek” Erecre.
In a separate incident in northern Negros Occidental, the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command (RJPC-NPA) Northern Negros Guerrilla Front also claimed responsibility for the killing of another man identified as Momarlito Alingasa, based on its statement on June 9.
The group alleged that Alingasa served as an intelligence asset for the Calatrava police and the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion, and accused him of involvement in illegal drug activities and gun-for-hire operations.
He was killed at Sitio Pison in Calatrava’s Barangay Minautok on June 5.
Police reports said four unidentified armed men forcibly entered the residence where Alingasa, locally known as “Momar,” was staying.
He was shot multiple times in the head and body, resulting in his immediate death.
A bystander, identified only as 22-year-old alias “Rodel,” a sugarcane worker, was hit by a stray bullet in the toe and was brought to the Calatrava Municipal Hospital.
Authorities said he is now in stable condition./CCJ, WDJ