Marañon slams NPA on ambush

GOVERNOR Alfredo Marañon Jr. said New People's Army's (NPA) admission of being behind the ambush in Barangay Puso, La Castellana that killed nine people shows the group's irresponsibility.

"That only shows that they are irresponsible," he said when asked for his reaction.

NPA spokesman Ka JB Regalado in a taped statement said they had no intention to stage an ambush but only to disarm policemen and armed barangay police action team (BPAT) members.

He claimed that the people on board the truck were the first to open fire when the NPA tried to flag down the vehicle which came from the barangay fiesta.

Regalado apologized only for the death of civilians Virginia Ordonez and Enrique Dingcong, and the wounding of a 14-year-old boy and 11 others. He also offered financial assistance to the victims.

Marañon said the rebels should discipline their comrades responsible for the ambush.

"No amount of financial assistance can compensate for the loss of the family of their loved ones in that ambush," the governor added.

Marañon condemned the said ambush because the rebels failed to spare the civilians.

Meanwhile, the Roselyn Pelle Command - Northern Negros Guerilla Front of the New People's Army in a press release signed by its spokesman Cecil Estrella confirmed the expulsion of some of their members who surrendered to the government.

Warrants of arrest were issued against their members who committed various serious offenses against the rebel movement.