BACOLOD CITY – A farmer was found dead in a charcoal yard in Sitio Cabalanti-an, Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on Monday, April 29.
Police withheld the name of the 52-year-old victim.
A FARMER was killed in a charcoal field in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on April 29.
Police Major Randy Babor, Binalbagan police chief, said that three gunshots were heard by residents late Sunday night, April 28.
The victim was found the following day. He sustained bullet wounds in the chest and neck.
Babor said they have no witness yet on the incident.
The New People’s Army (NPA) claimed responsibility for the killing on Tuesday, April 30. They said that he was a government asset.
Babor said the victim was not a government asset upon verification with the Army.
Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, spokesperson of the Army 3rd Infantry Divison (ID), said that it was an alibi for the NPA to justify their “terror acts.”
Javines said that communist rebels resort to these tactics as they are not capable of conducting major tactical offensives.
“What they are capable of is targeting soft targets like ambuscades of unwary Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary (CAA) riding on motorcycles and killing of suspected informants to create fear among the residents and make their presence felt to show the people that they are still relevant.”
The NPA has admitted to four other fatal shooting incidents in Negros Occidental this month.