Army on manhunt for NPA unit linked to killing of former rebel in De Oro

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Jul 23, 2020): Army on manhunt for NPA unit linked to killing of former rebel in De Oro (By: Jigger J. Jerusalem)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Government soldiers are now on a manhunt for the killers of a former communist guerrilla at a remote village here.

Maj. Aldren Baculio, chief of the Lumbia police station, said the victim’s brother was able to identify the attackers as their former comrades in the New People’s Army (NPA).

Saidor Balansi, 25, was shot in his residence at the hinterland village of Besigan on Tuesday (July 22) evening.

Bansali’s brother, known only as Jan-jan, told police investigators that a group of at least 30 fully armed individuals was responsible for the killing.

He identified the attackers as members of NPA’s Sub-Regional Command 5 led by an alias Decoy.

Baculio said the Balansi brothers joined NPA in 2015 but they surrendered to the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade detachment based at the village of Mambuaya in 2017.

After surrendering, Balansi returned to farming, he added.

“They were mostly being used as guide by the NPA, although Jan-Jan said they once joined in a combat operation in the hinterland area,” Baculio said.

Right after the shooting, the Lumbia police quickly coordinated with the Army in the area which pointed at Talakag town, Bukidnon province as the direction which the group that killed Balanse fled to.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1311172/army-on-manhunt-for-npa-unit-linked-to-killing-of-former-rebel-in-de-oro