The Leonardo Panaligan Command of the New People’s Army Central Negros Guerrilla Front (LPC-NPA) expressed its outrage over the alleged killing of a farmer by state troopers in a “fake encounter” at Barangay Luz, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on July 4.
The rebels denied the allegations of the Army that the victim, Randy Tapales, was an NPA member.
They stressed in a statement that Tapales, a resident of the barangay, was walking alone on his way home when he was reportedly ambushed by the military.
“It is not true that there was an encounter between the NPA and military troops around this time and, also, Tapales was not an NPA fighter,” Ka JB Regalado, LPC-NPA spokesperson, said.
He added that Tapales, prior to his death, had received death threats.
The Army had earlier linked Tapales to several Guihulngan City killings, including the fatal ambush of Corporal Mark Anthony Quiocson in Barangay Luz on July 1, 2020; Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA) Mico Dinoy, who was also killed in Barangay Luz on January 28; and two swine traders who were killed in Barangay Magsaysay in July 2020.
Two warrants of arrest had been issued against Tapales.*