By Mike U. Crismundo
Camp Bancasi, Butuan City – A farmer was allegedly murdered by the elements of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, according to Capt. Al Anthony B. Pueblas, Civil Military Operation (CMO) officer of the Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade (402nd IB) on Saturday.
Pueblas identified the victim as Melecio C. Monta, 48, and resident of Purok 1, Barangay Cambuayon, Bacuag, Surigao del Norte.
According to the initial report, the victim was shot dead by three armed men believed to be members of Guerilla Front Committee 16-C (GFC 16-C) of the CPP-NPA North Eastern Mindanao Region Committee (NEMRC) operating in the area, Pueblas told The Manila Bulletin on Saturday.
He said that the initial investigation conducted by field units showed that the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds, while an empty cartridge of an AK47 rifle was recovered at the crime scene.
The victim’s wife Cecilia told Army probers that she and Melecio were taking a rest with their eight children inside their house at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday when the armed men barged in and forcibly took her husband.
She recounted that, after Melecio was taken out of their house, they heard gunshots.
According to Pueblas, Cecilia suspected that the assailants were looking for firearms that were reportedly being kept by her husband.
Last April 18, the members of the same Guerilla Front harassed Barangay Lahi in Gigaquit town that resulted in the killing of a villager and the wounding of two others.