Mayor dares NPA: Issue your statement

LA CASTELLANA Mayor Alberto Nicor dared Wednesday the New People’s Army (NPA) to issue a statement whether it is behind the ambush in Barangay Puso that killed nine persons and wounded nine others.

The attack happened Sunday morning (January 7). Some of the fatalities, including a policeman, were shot in the head at close range.

Nicor described the incident as inhuman, and pointed out that it is the first time such incident happened in his locality.

Previous insurgency-related incidents involved the burning of farm equipment but these had not claimed the lives of innocent civilians.

Nicor said if the NPA rebels are indeed the ones behind the ambush-massacre, then they should come out with a statement.

Military officials claimed that the attack was staged by the NPA rebels, citing witnesses’ accounts that the ambushers, before leaving the area, shouted, “Mabuhay ang NPA.”

Despite the incident, Nicor assured visitors to the town not to be afraid in doing business in La Castellana.

He also said that the local government unit (LGU) has extended cash assistance to the families of the victims.

He said the LGU will also help in the burial of those who were killed.

Nicor also disclosed that the Provincial Government, through Board Member Melvin Ibañez, has extended food stuff and cash assistance to the victims.

Representative Alejandro Mirasol (5th district, Negros Occidental) has also committed to shoulder the hospitalization of the victims who are confined in government hospitals, he added.