Top ranking NPA leader Romeo Nanta, alias Juanito Magbanua, who was killed in an encounter in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Monday, October 10.*30rd IB photo
A ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader was killed in the fifth encounter between government and rebel forces in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, 5:25 p.m. Monday, October 10.
Killed was Romeo Nanta, alias Juanito Magbanua/Juaning/Jack, who was the commanding officer of the NPA’s Regional Operational Command of the Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros and the spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, in a statement released Tuesday, October 11, said that Nanta was previously arrested in 2011 for murder, frustrated murder, robbery and damage to properties.
“He was, directly and indirectly, responsible for the death of soldiers, policemen, Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (members) and innocent civilians. He was also responsible for the ambush of policemen in Binalbagan early this year,” Pasaporte claimed.
He said that Nanta jumped bail posted by NPA front organizations, returned to the movement, and was involved again in various atrocities.
“The death of Alias Juaning is a big blow to the NPA group as he is responsible for various atrocities aimed to intimidate businesses, quarry operators, contractors, local officials, and agrarian reform beneficiaries in Negros Island to give in to their extortion demands. A notorious NPA leader with numerous warrants of arrests that makes him the most wanted NPA terrorist in Negros Island,” Paaporte said.
Nanta’s death would clearly serve as a reminder that no one can escape the long arm of the law, he said, adding that “it would also serve as justice to innocent civilians tagged as informants to justify their brand of justice and contribute to the collapse of NPA in Negros Island”.
He is hopeful that Nanta’s death would lead to the realization of other members that their only option is to return to the fold of the law, as he reiterated his call for them to surrender.
Himamaylan has been placed under a state of calamity due to the series of encounters that have displaced more than 16,000 residents. A gun battle between the government and rebels forces on Saturday led to the death of two soldiers and the injury of six others.
‘COLD-BLOODED MURDER’
The Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, in a statement Tuesday, said it was a “cold-blooded murder and not an encounter,” stressing that Nanta was “summarily killed” by elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion after he was captured in the area.
Under the laws of war, Nanta should have been accorded the status of hors de combat (combatants who are not in a position to fight) and his rights should have been respected and treated with humanity, the statement said.
It said that the Army is again and again spewing lies to justify its war crimes and obscure the utter failure of their counter-insurgency campaign.
Suffering from hypertension and arthritis, Nanta chose to stay in Sitio Medel to closely monitor the situation of the masses while the NPA unit maneuvered away from the area after the October 6 encounter, the statement added.
In response, Pasaporte said the rebels would say anything to gain sympathy.*