PRESIDENT ROXAS, Cotabato - The New People’s Army (NPA) Front 53 North Cotabato-Bukidnon Operational Command of Southern Mindanao, admitted it has executed on Saturday its former commander who returned to government's side in 1986 (not last year as earlier reported).
In text messages sent to dxND Radyo Bida in Kidapawan City, a person who identified himself as a top official of the NPA said Larry Embac, also known as Commander Bartol, has long been wanted by their organization for being a “traitor.”
The NPA official disclosed that in 1986, Commander Bartol brought six of his men in a mountainous area in Magpet, Cotabato where a platoon of the military was waiting and forced them to surrender to the 39th Infantry Battalion who has jurisdiction over the province.
Commander Bartol and his men surrendered their high-powered firearms and availed of the government's “Balik Baril” program, the texter told reporters.
The former NPA commander was even said to have played the role of an asset of the government during the term of the late President Corazon Aquino.
Melcepet Embac, the victim’s wife, admitted that her husband was a former rebel commander but it had already been two decades since he began to live a normal and peaceful life in Barangay Labu-o, President Roxas town.
She said Commander Bartol had a lingering illness due to his age.
Mrs. Embac said her husband was killed in broad daylight in their village at around 5:30 in the afternoon on Saturday.
“I could not do anything to save my husband," she said, adding the suspects trained their guns on him.
Their 11-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter also witnessed the killing of their father, perpetrated by a group of armed men led by one of their relatives.
“It was his nephew who is a member of the NPA who shot my husband while he was running to save his life,” Mrs. Embac said.
The victims’ two children were still in shock due to the incident they have witnessed.
They are being assisted by the town’s social welfare and development personnel for psychosocial intervention.
Mrs. Embac on the other hand called on authorities to arrest the suspects to give justice to her fallen husband.
“I am appealing to our local PNP [Philippine National Police], do everything to get the suspects and put them behind bars to give justice to our family,” Mrs. Embac said.
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