Moises Padilla mayor, vice mayor accused of rebel links

From the Sun Star-Bacolod (Aug 5, 2019): Moises Padilla mayor, vice mayor accused of rebel links

A FORMER member of the New People's Army's (NPA) rebel who claims now to be on the NPA hit list surfaced on Friday and accused the current mayor and vice mayor of Moises Padilla of having links to the insurgent group.

53-year-old Noli Garinggo, formerly a chairman of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and resident of Moises Padilla, was accompanied by his lawyer in filing his affidavit to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Negros Occidental at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr., Barangay Camingawan, Bacolod City.

Based in his sworn affidavit, he claimed that he served with the KMP and the NPA since 1982 until May 2019 wherein he was disarmed and sentenced to death by the rebels.

In February 2016, his group called for a meeting at a house owned by a certain Neneng Timbad in the town's Barangay Guinpanaan.

When he entered the house, he claimed he saw current Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo and the town's current Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor, along with several other district members of the KMP in Central and Southern Negros.

He claimed that instead of discussing plans for a protest rally, the meeting instead became a discussion for the NPA's "datos" or those listed to be liquidated by the rebels, wherein the attendees were all members of the NPA's Kangaroo Court.

When he reviewed the documents of the meeting, Garinggo claimed he saw the name of Nonong Grande in the NPA's hitlist for allegedly blocking private roads and disallowing people from passing unless they join him in his cause or support his own political candidates for the upcoming 2016 national elections.

He, however, claimed that he later found out that the reason why Garcia-Yulo added Garinggo to the list is because he reported the names of her close associates and employees, who are allegedly involved in the town's illegal drug activities.

He claimed the list was later approved by NPA-Leonardo Panaligan Command spokesperson, Ka JB Regalado, who then instructed members of the NPA's Special Partisan Unit to carry out Grande's murder.

Garinggo further claimed that he also saw the names of Joerito Amable, Rusty Caminade, and town Councilor Jolomar Hilario in the NPA's liquidation list. All of whom later murdered in separate incidents.

In 2018 Garinggo was forced into hiding after he separated from his wife, who made false accusations against him before the NPA, until he later learned that he along with his comrade and fellow rebel Jerry Turga were sentenced to death, pointing out that Turgas was disappointed and would oppose how the orders to kill were issued by the NPA as there were no due process through investigation was observed.

Turga was later shot to death by the rebels.

Garinggo pointed out that the reason why he surfaced was because he took pity over the families, especially Grande's family. He also claimed his fellowship with the NPA only caused trouble for him and his family.

Aside from Garcia-Yulo, and Villaflor, Garinggo also accused Grego Herrera, Jimmy Don Plaza, Magno Flores, Moreto Flores, his wife Ma. Luisita Garinggo of having links to the murders in the town.

Meanwhile, it is also clarified that the murder complaint filed against Garcia-Yulo and Villaflor based on earlier affidavits filed by Jully Opiar and Robert Sualog were only dismissed in the Prosecutor level without prejudice and can be refiled.

Both Garcia-Yulo and Villaflor have already denied the allegations of having links to the insurgent group.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1817323