SUSPECTED New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed three people, whom were sentenced to death by its “Hukomang Bayan,” Tuesday, March 7, in Zamboanga del Sur.
The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Purok 4 in the village of Dampalan, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
Zamboanga del Sur Police Director Sofronio Ecaldre identified the victims as Alipio Andus, 39; Ariston Paroc, 46; and Julieto Candao, 28, who were all residents of Dampalan, Pagadian City.
Ecaldre said the village officials of Dampalan turned over to the police a piece of paper they found at the crime scene with written message from the NPA Zamboanga del Sur Operations Command-Zamboanga Peninsula Region that the victims were sentenced to death by its “Hukomang Bayan” on March 3.
The NPA cited land grabbing and masterminds in the killing of four people as among the crimes of the victims.
Recovered at the crime scene by the village officials were 40 spent shells of caliber 5.56 millimeter rifle known as M-16 Armalite rifle.
Ecaldre said that Merlin, wife of Paroc, told the police that she saw around 10 to 15 people while they were on the way home coming from their farm around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Merlin further said she heard burst of automatic gunfire as she walked past the group of armed men and ahead of the victims.
The gunmen spared Merlin and hurriedly left the crime scene. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)