NPA claim foiled slay of barangay official

From the Visayan Daily Star (Nov 23): NPA claim foiled slay of barangay official

The New People’s Army has reportedly claimed responsibility for the foiled attempt to kill a newly-elected barangay chairman Monday in Brgy. Minautok, Calatrava, based on a handwritten note left by the two assailants at the scene, Senior Inspector Robert Mansueto, town police chief, yesterday said.

Mansueto, however, said they are still validating the claims, hand-written on a piece of elementary pad paper, and left at the crime scene by the two gunmen, after shooting the victim, identified as Minautok barangay chairman Fidel Aninon, 60.

Aninon, who had also served as a barangay kagawad of Minautok, sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the leg and lower abdomen. He, however, survived the attempt on his life by the two suspects, who carried 45 caliber pistols, Mansueto said.

Quoting witnesses, Mansueto said the two suspects were described to be between 18 to 19 years old, and was strangers in the area.

The shooting took place while the distribution of relief goods to typhoon victims was going on, he added.

A day after the incident, Senior Inspector Rollie Pondevilla was replaced by Mansueto as Calatrava police officer-in-charge.

Lt. Col. Efren Morados, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, had earlier revealed that the NPA in northern Negros is targeting for liquidation some barangay officials in northern Negros.

The hinterland areas of Escalante, Toboso and Calatrava have been the focus of military operations and their non-traditional activities in the past several months.

The police is still being determined was insurgency-related if the recent assassination of SPO1 Agustin Hulleza Jr., also a resident of Calatrava Hulleza, a member of the Toboso police intelligence section, had allegedly been marked for assassination by the NPA, Senior Inspector Danilo Zuniega said.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/November/23/topstory11.htm