The Boy Gatmaitan Command of the New People's Army yesterday claimed responsibility for the assassination of breakaway faction communist rebel leader Rogelio Magbato, alias Ka Malvar, in Mabinay, Oriental Negros, on Jan. 26.

Ka Bayani Obrero, Boy Gatmaitan Command spokesman, said Malvar was punished for the alleged rape-slay of a minor, land grabbing, extortion activities and active participation in counter-insurgency campaign of the military.

Malvar sustained gunshot wounds on his left temple and back, the military said.

Two members of the Civilian Volunteers Organization assigned at a Mabinay police sub-station identified as Rogelio Maylan and Joel Mahusay, who responded to the shooting incident, were also gunned down by three other rebel hitmen serving as the back-up force of the assassins of Malvar, police investigations show. Obrero, in a statement sent to the DAILY STAR, however, claimed the two CVO members attacked another partisan operative who was acting as look-out and back-up of the assassins of Malvar.

He further claimed that the two CVO members were part of a network organized by Malvar for his personal defense and for the police and the military.

Malvar was the third RPA leader assassinated by NPA hitmen since 2003. The two other breakaway faction leaders killed in previous years were Arturo Tabara and Daniel Batoy, alias Mokong.

Meanwhile, the NPA Roger Mahinay Command also claimed that five soldiers and two others were wounded in Candoni and Cauayan, but not a single red fighter was killed.

The encounter in Brgy. Haba, Candoni, on Feb. 3 claimed the life of NPA red fighter Rex Parreño whose body was claimed by his relatives, Lt. Col. Norman Flores, 61st Infantry Battalion commander, said.

An M-14 assault rifle with seven magazines containing ammunition, an empty magazine and a combat pack, were recovered from the slain insurgent, Flores added.

He also said the series of encounters in southern Negros was also an offshoot of the discovery and seizure of a rebel camp, after 20 minutes of gunbattle, in Brgy. Camalanda-an, Cauayan, on Jan. 29. which also claimed the lives of two insurgents and caused injuries to five others.*GPB

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