Rebels kill 2, burn equipment

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 25, 2019): Rebels kill 2, burn equipment

Four gunmen suspected to be New People’s Army rebels yesterday shot and killed a rebel returnee and a leader of a farmer’s group in Zamboaguita town, a day after alleged communist rebels also burned heavy equipment owned by a construction firm in Guihulngan City, all in Negros Oriental.

The Zamboanguita police as identified those killed on the spot Weny Alegre, a rebel returnee-turned farmer, and Felimino Janayan, also a farmer and president of the United Colango Farmers Association.

Police investigations showed that four suspects, who were wearing face masks and jackets, and riding in two yellow and orange motorcycles, were involved in the fatal shooting of Alegre and Janayan.

Both succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, according to the police.

Quoting testimonies of a witness, the four suspects followed and shot several times the two victims, who were on their way home, on board a motorcycle, from a cockpit in the town.

The four rebel suspects shouted “Mabuhay ang NPA (Long Live the NPA)”, while withdrawing from the scene of incident, police said.

Eleven fired cartridges a.45 caliber pistol, two empty shells of 9mm pistol and two other fired slugs of unknown caliber of firearms were recovered at the scene of incident by the Zamboanguita police.

Barangay chairman Jesus Manuel Trinidad reported to the police yesterday that a backhoe owned by WTG Construction was burned and fired at by a group of suspected NPA rebels on Wednesday in Sitio Malinoy, Brgy. Magsaysay, Guihulngan City, also in Negros Oriental.

The armed men also opened fire at another heavy equipment, a payloader, the Guihulngan police also said.

Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said yesterday that they are still determining if the suspects are indeed NPA members, and also the motive for the incident.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/July/25/topstory6.htm