Wednesday, February 28, 2007
'NPAs killed our loved ones'
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
RELATIVES of farmers allegedly slain by the New People's Army (NPA) from Occidental and Oriental Negros Tuesday demanded justice for the deaths of their loved ones.
Oscar Gonzales led 16 others whose relatives were reportedly killed by members of the rebel group in the past. Gonzales is currently the chairman of Barangay Tanglad, Tayasan, Oriental Negros. He said he himself can attest to how abusive the NPAs are in their area.
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"Our former barangay captain (chief) Olimpio Dayapan was killed in 1984 and our former OIC barangay captain (chief) Jovito Dayapan also suffered harassment from the hands of the NPAs after they burned his house and took his domesticated animals," Gonzales told the press.
He said he was also abducted but was returned later.
Gonzales added that the Tanglad residents fear for their safety during nighttime.
On the other hand, Eddie Daba from Sikatuna, Isabela, Negros Occidental showed to the media the scars in his left face and right leg caused by bullet wounds after he was shot by the NPAs in Barangay Tiwil, La Libertad town also in the Oriental on Nov. 11 last year.
Daba, a former member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) was accused by the NPAs as a DPA (Deep Penetration Agent) of the military in Sikatuna area.
"They (NPAs) shot me on the left portion of my head but the bullet exited through my mouth. They also shot me on my right leg twice. After that, they thought I was already dead so they dumped me at the cliff in Tiwil. Luckily, I fell on the tree where I hung for several hours before I struggled for my safety," he narrated to the media.
Kayo Capunong of Sta. Catalina town also in Oriental asked the Commission on Human Rights (VHR) to help probe the case of his wife Wennie Capunong, who was gunned down by the rebels allegedly led by a certain Raul Villar alias "Ka Drilon" on May 8, 2002.
Mrs. Capunong was a former treasurer of Sta. Catalina and was carrying the payroll money of the town when strafed to death.
"Until now, my wife's death has no justice," Mr. Capunong said in Cebuano.
Emelita Abayon of Sicaba, Victorias City, Negros Occidental said the NPAs also abducted and killed her husband Rodolfo on Feb. 19 last year.
"First, the NPAs invited my husband for investigation but, later, I was shocked after one of our children told me that they already killed my husband," she recalled.
Mrs. Abayon said her husband was abducted after their eldest son, Roger, killed someone in their area in 2005.
"Roger went on hiding so the NPAs retaliated by killing my husband," she added.
Flor Jaberto, mother of three kids, also claimed that the NPAs ambushed her husband Vic on Nov. 10, 2006 in Busay, Tayasan, Oriental Negros.
Vic was a member of Barangay Defense Group (BDG) in Busay. BDG, however, is alleged by the rebels as an ally group of the military.
"I have not seen any of the suspects who killed my husband. But one of my child told me that one of the NPAs in our area was the one who shot him to death," the teary-eyed Flor disclosed to the media.
Meanwhile, both Vangie Laguardia of the CHR-Negros Occidental and Gen. Gregorio Fajardo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, vowed assistance for them.For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (February 28, 2007 issue)
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