NPA guerillas stand in formation in a show of force in a hinterland village in San Luis, Agusan del Sur. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYON.COM
The New People’s Army (NPA) has released a statement owning the "execution" of a retired police officer and a candidate for city councilor in Gingoog City on Monday morning.
The communist rebels described retired officer Francisco Baguiz as an abusive man involved in oppressing indigenous communities, but Mayor Marie Guingona, who had picked him as part of her slate in the last elections, was shocked, describing him as a simple and kind man. "His death is a tragic loss for our city and our people. I vehemently and unequivocally denounce his dastardly murder."
According to the statement issued Wednesday by Ka Allan Juanito, spokesperson of the NPA-North Central Mindanao Regional Operations Command, some 50 rebels manning a "checkpoint" had carried out the " judgment for the punishment of death" on retired SPO4 Francisco “Dodong” R. Baguiz about 10 a.m. in Sitio Kidahon, Barangay Malinao, Gingoog City.
"For a long time, the Indigenous People (IP) and farmers had complained about land grabbing in Syoan, Malinao and other parts of Gingoog City. He also has a case with the revolutionary movement on the killings of tribal leaders and residents who are just defending their ancestral lands,” said the rebel leader.
Baguiz was the subject of an earlier operation by the NPA in December 2005, but survived the assassination try, said the rebels.“ Unfortunately, he did not learn and continued with his counter revolutionary activities and actions against the people,” said the NPA statement.
Ka Allan Juanito said Baguiz was also allegedly involved in extortion, using the name and logo of the NPA, "and anti-revolutionary activities by the cult-like group Gintong Araw in which Baguiz was believed to be the leader."
The NPA statement claimed rebels confiscated two AR-15 assault rifles, 14 ammunition magazines, caliber .45 and .40 pistols and two radios.
Roger Gamayot Roselem, a former army militiaman and bodyguard to Baguiz, said in a police report that the victim, together with his sons and daughters and other members of the Gintong Araw religious group, were riding a Toyota Hilux enroute to Barangay Talisay when they were stopped by what turned out to be a rebel checkpoint.
Roselem's account to the police said: “More or less fifty fully armed men wearing army uniform blocked their way to Barangay Malinao. Baquiz was immediately handcuffed and brought alone 30 meters away, leaving his companions behind.”
The police report suggests that the victim suffered four fatal stab wounds in his body, resulting to his death.
Mayor shocked, demands justice
Gingoog City Mayor Marie Guingona expressed shock, as Baguiz was a part of her council line-up during the May 9 elections.
“Mr. Baguiz was a friend, a retired police officer, a member of our slate as a candidate for city councilor in the most recent local elections, and a long-time supporter. He was also a leader in our community, and a father to his many followers. His death is a tragic loss for our city and our people. I vehemently and unequivocally denounce his dastardly murder. I therefore call on all law enforcement agencies to do everything under the law to bring the vicious perpetrators to justice,” said Guingona.
Superintendent Surki Sereñas, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 10, said they are awaiting the statements of more witnesses.
“The regional police office is acting on it, we are just waiting for the witnesses to give out their statements and hopefully we can then file the case, hopefully as soon as possible. We condemn the act of violence in putting the law in their hands, this person is working for the community, a community organizer and a retired policeman,” said Sereñas.
http://interaksyon.com/article/127942/npa-owns-execution-of-ex-cop-on-gingoog-city-mayors-council-slate
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