DUMAGUETE CITY -- Suspected members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) are believed to be behind the killing of a civilian volunteer whose lifeless body was found late Monday in Siaton, Negros Oriental.
Initial police report identified the victim as Gelino M. Vailoces, 52, resident of Sitio Ondol, Barangay Talalak in the municipality of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.
Vailoces is an active member of the SCAA (Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned at the CAA Detachment in Sitio Cuadra, Barangay Mantiquil in Siaton.
Initial investigation showed that a group of fully armed men numbering to more or less 30 fetched Vailoces in his residence at around 8:10 in the morning of November 13.
Later on the same date, the body of Vailoces was found lifeless in Sitio Budlis in Barangay Mantiquil which was brought to the Siaton District Hospital Tuesday morning.
The victim succumbed to gunshot wounds to the head and right knee, the police report said.
Police investigators believe that the SCAA member was shot by communist rebels although no motive was given at the time of the report.
Acting provincial police director, Senior Superintendent Edwin Portento, also said Monday afternoon that alleged NPA rebels had killed the SCAA member, as he asked possible witnesses to cooperate with the police in the investigation and provide information leading to the suspects. (PNA)
