Isabela councilor killed NPA claims responsibility

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jun 30): Isabela councilor killed NPA claims responsibility
       
Suspected New People's Army assassins yesterday shot and killed in broad daylight a re-elected municipal councilor of Isabela, Negros Occidental.

This took place a year after Board Member Renato Malabor was also gunned down in the town.

Isabela Councilor Crispin Posadas succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, including fatal injuries in the head. He died on the spot, Chief Inspector Anthony Grande, Isabela police chief, said last night.

Ka Ann Jacinto, spokesperson of the Leonardo Panaligan Command, in a text message sent to the Visayan DAILY STAR, immediately claimed responsibility for the death of Posadas.

“Ginpatigayon sg npa ang pagsilot sg kamatayon ka isabela sp Dodoy Posadas (The NPA imposed the death penalty on Isabela Councilor Dodoy Posadas)”, Ka Ann Jacinto said in her text message.

Investigations by the Isabela police showed that Posadas was about to board his motorcycle at past 5 p.m. yesterday, when he was approached and shot by three suspects, armed with .45 caliber and 9mm pistols, at close range, within the vicinity of the public market at Magallanes Street in the town.

Grande said Posadas sustained fatal gunshot wounds in the forehead, left ear and neck.
The suspects also fired their guns while fleeing on board a tricycle towards Brgy. Sikatuna, he added.

The tricycle abandoned by the fleeing suspects was recovered later by the police, about two kilometers from the crime scene.

Seven empty shells of .45 caliber and 9mm pistols were recovered by police probers at the scene.

The Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade condemned anew the killing of innocent civilians.

“Let us not allow more of this senseless attacks and loss of lives to continue”, Col. Francisco Delfin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said last night.

“We call on the NPA to stop killings and spare innocent civilians, as they are not combatants,” Delfin added.

Posadas, a third-termer councilor of Isabela, took his oath of office on Monday, with six other councilors and Mayor Enrique Montilla after the traditional flag-raising ceremony on June 27 at the municipal hall.

A year ago, Malabor and his bodyguard, Leody Jomilla, were also shot and killed in Brgy. Guintubhan, Isabela.

Before the May 9 elections, two barangay captains of Isabela, who are supporters of Montilla, were also harassed and warned by the NPA, not to return to their barangays.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2016/June/30/topstory1.htm