NPA own killing of RPA leader

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 19): NPA own killing of RPA leader

Killings by the New People's Army in Negros continue despite the ongoing peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front, with the rebel group yesterday claiming responsibility for the killing of a leader of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade on July 8 in Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental.

Like many other victims of NPA atrocities, RPA-ABB leader Charlie Boliboli was linked by the Roselyn Pelle Command of the NPA to a series of crimes, such as murder, land grabbing, and harassment of farmers in Brgy. Bago, Salvador Benedicto.

Ka Cecil Estrella, spokesperson of the Roselyn Pelle Command in northern Negros, in a statement issued by the rebel group, further accused the victim of being a gun for hire of a family in Salvador Benedicto.

Last month, the same rebel group claimed responsibility for the killing of a sugar planter and his driver in Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental. Another rebel group also owned up to the responsibility of killing a former Army soldier in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.

Senior Supt. Rodolfo Castil Jr, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said yesterday that the Salvador Benedicto police is now readying the filing of charges against the identified assailants of Boliboli, adding that the documents only needed signatures of his family.

The Army's 3rd Infantry Division slammed the NPA for the continued killings of civilians.

Estrella justified the killing of Boli-boli, by claiming that he was a legitimate target of the revolutionary movement.

Because of the peace agreement between the RPA-ABB and the government, Estrella said the RPA has been active in counter-revolutionary activities and served as guides in military operations.

Castil said they have received reports that a private armed group, who used to be rebels, and the NPA merged, for monetary considerations, and raised the possibility that the killers of Lumayno in Calatrava and Boliboli may have been from the same group.

Estrella dinied claims that they were paid to kill Lumayno and Boliboli.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/July/19/topstory6.htm