NPA assassinate ‘military informant’

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 8, 2023): NPA assassinate ‘military informant’ (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

Several hours after an encounter that resulted in the death of a suspected member of the New People’s Army, five alleged NPA hitmen took revenge by killing a civilian they tagged as a military informant on August 5 at Purok Inarawis, Brgy Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

Initial investigation conducted by the Moises Padilla police showed that the five suspects identified as Reynaldo and Marlo Catasio, Jesus Molena, Rolandi and Carmilito Juanites had dinner with their victim, Joemarie Benitez and his family, prior to the incident.

After having dinner with the family of the victim, the suspects, who are allegedly members of the NPA Special Partisan Unit, invited Benitez to go with them outside.

Based on the testimonies gathered by the police, Erlinda Benitez, the mother of the victim, said she heard four gunshots and then saw her son lying on the ground, while the suspects withdrew towards Sitio Agogolo in Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla.

She also told the Moises Padilla police that her son was accused of being a military spy.

The liquidation of Benitez, a 28-year-old laborer, took place several hours after Army soldiers killed one of three suspected NPA rebels during an encounter in Sitio Cansimba, Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla.

The three rebels encountered by 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers were believed to be among the eight armed men fleeing from Army troopers they encountered in Brgy. Imelda, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

Two firearms and a fragmentation grenade were among the war materials recovered by 62IB from the two encounter sites, aside from the remains of a slain rebel.*

https://visayandailystar.com/npa-assassinate-military-informant/