ARMY Major General Pio Diñoso, commander of the 8th Infantry Division in Eastern Visayas, condemned the killing of a former rebel in Matuguinao, Samar on September 28, 2020.

The victim, 50-year-old Carlos Diaz, was reportedly shot several times in his head and different parts of his body while he was working on his farm in Barangay Nagpapacao of the said town.

In a statement, the Army official also accused the New People's Army (NPA) as behind the "brutal" death of Diaz, who already surrendered to the government in August 2018.

"We will make the communist NPA terrorists and their supporters accountable for the actions of their members who deprived their former NPA members to live peacefully with their loved ones," said Diñoso.

Lieutenant Colonel Jasper Justito Pecson, commanding officer of 19th Infantry Battalion, said Diaz had been "living peacefully with his family as a farmer" when he was attacked.

"The NPA was doing atrocities in order to instill fear to their former members and supporters and even kill people in the communities who contradict their propaganda," Pecson said.

According to the Army, five former rebels were abducted and murdered in Eastern Visayas this year alone.

As of Wednesday evening, September 30, no group has come forward to own the killing of the rebel returnee.

Eastern Visayas, particularly the Samar Island, remains a hotbed of insurgency with the continued presence of NPA. (SunStar Philippines)