TWIN GUNSLAY. Police authorities are eyeing the possible involvement of the New People's Army in the shooting-to-death on Tuesday (July 21, 2020) of two swine traders in Guihulngan City. City Police Chief Lt. Col. Bonifacio Tecson said it appears that the two victims were mistaken of being either police or military personnel. (Photo courtesy of M&M Radio Guihulngan)
DUMAGUETE CITY – Police investigators are eyeing the possible involvement of members of the New People’s Army (NPA) – the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – in the shooting-to-death of two men in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental Tuesday afternoon.
Lt. Col. Bonifacio Tecson, Guihulngan City police chief, in an interview Wednesday afternoon said they already have leads that appear to point to the NPA as behind the killing of the two victims who may have been “mistaken” as either police or Philippine Army personnel.
The victims, identified by a report from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) as Jimmer Fundador, of legal age and Romeo Dungo-an, 43, both swine traders, were on board their motorcycles around 2:50 p.m. when they were shot at in Sitio Mandi-e, Barangay Magsaysay.
The two were hit by bullets multiple times and were declared dead on arrival at the Guihulngan City District Hospital.
"Ug posibleng naalaan sila kay tungod sa ilang barog nga murag police o military (they were possibly victims of mistaken identity because of their physical appearance that looked like they were police or military personnel)," Tecson said.
The shooting of the two coincided with the third year anniversary of the NPA ambush-slay of then Guihulngan City police chief, Supt. Arnel Arpon, and his men, namely, non-commissioned police officers Necasio Pasculado Tabilon, Teovic Gador Agosto, Jesael Pequero Ancheta, Alvin Paul Alquizola Bulandres, and Alfredo Lastimoso Dunque.
Three other policemen, Jerome Delara, Jordan Balderas, and Jorie Maribao, were wounded in that attack, while Michael Jambalos, a civilian aide of Guihulngan Councilor Edison dela Rita, was also killed in that ambuscade.
The swine traders were also shot dead close to the area where the police personnel were ambushed and killed, Tecson said.
Recovered from the crime scene were several empty shells and cartridges of M-16, 9mm and .45-caliber firearms, he said.
Tecson said the Guihulngan City Police Station and some local officials headed by Mayor Guido Reyes held a simple ceremony including a holy mass in commemoration of the deaths of the police officers.
Meanwhile, he said his men are still probing another shooting-to-death incident in Guihulngan City on Wednesday morning.
An initial report from the NOPPO that did not yet identify the victim said that two unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects shot a 51-year-old-male in Sitio Bato, Barangay Malusay around 10:40 a.m. for a still unknown motive.
Three cartridge cases and one .45-caliber slug were recovered from the crime scene. (PNA)
