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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Friday, March 16, 2018
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ILOILO City – The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) does not believe the New People’s Army (NPA) has a hit squad in Panay Island.
“There is no strong indication of that,” said Brigadier General Dinoh Dolina, 3ID commander.
He issued the statement following the murder of a former NPA member in Barangay Mahalang, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Friday last week.
Witnesses said eight armed men shot to death 35-year-old Jemar Pitogo.
Dolina said his men had not monitored any NPA death squad in Panay Island. He, however, stressed they were not complacent and their intelligence operatives were working round-the-clock monitoring rebel movement.
The men who killed Pitogo were believed to be his former comrades in the NPA.
Pitogo joined the NPA in 2002. He surrendered to authorities in 2012 citing hunger and other difficulties in the mountains.
“Pinapatay nila ang mga nag-surrender kasi they believe their former comrades turned into military or police assets,” said Dolina.
The military’s counter-insurgency campaign made headway during the Aquino administration, said Dolina.
“The rebels’ use of landmines is a desperate move. They can’t win against us so they run after former colleagues who left them to seek better lives. They are hitting unarmed civilians, too, they suspect of being military informers,” said Dolina./PN
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