BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) is offering a reward of P300,000 to anyone who could give information leading to the capture of the New People’s Army (NPA) leader identified only by his alias “Arnel Tapang”.
Tapang’s group is believed to be responsible for the murder of Barangay Captain Benjamin Javoc of Lalong, Calatrava, Negros Occidental Friday last week.
According to 79IB commander Lieutenant Colonel J-jay Javines, Tapang’s group was also involved in two more killings early this month in the said town.
It is believed that Tapang’s group is hiding in the mountains of Calatrava.
The 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) commander, Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, meanwhile, condemned Javoc’s murder and stated that the NPA’s allegation that Javoc was involved in the illegal drug trade was “invented.”
“Nag-take oath ka to serve the people, to serve your barangay, so nga-a halitan pa sila? Gina-condemn namon ang amo na nga terrorist activities and we will be filing appropriate charges,” Pasaporte said.
Javoc is the second village chief in Negros Occidental to be gunned down following the murder of Barangay Cabcab, Isabela village chief Danilo Dautil on Wednesday last week.
It is believed that Dautil’s murder was also perpetrated by the NPA; the village chief was active in anti-insurgency programs.
Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson over the weekend also condemned both incidents and condoled with the victims’ families.
“Rest assured, the provincial government will assist both families,” Lacson said./PN
