A barangay kagawad suspected to be a military informant became the fifth victim in the series of New People's Army liquidation activities in Oriental Negros within a period of one month, the military said.

Lt. Col. Jess Manangquil, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said kagawad Jury Bayawa, 54, single, was shot dead by two unidentified armed men believed to be members of the NPA on March 4 in Brgy. Mani-ak, Guihulngan town, Oriental Negros. The liquidation of Bayawa, a councilman of Brgy. Mani-ak, Guihulngan, took place four days after Sonny Villamor, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, was also assassinated by three rebel hitmen in Brgy. Mandapaton, La Libertad, Oriental Negros.

Manangquil said the assassins of Bayawa were armed with an M-16 assault rifle and a .45 caliber pistol.

Police investigations showed Bayawa was inside the videoke house of Rustico and Irenia Policher at about 8 p.m. on March 4 when the suspects appeared.

Witnesses told the police that an armed man waited outside while his companion rushed in and shot Bayawa repeatedly.

After ensuring that their target was dead, the gunmen escaped, and ran toward a forested area behind the videoke house, investigations further showed.

Bayawa was rushed to the Guihulngan District Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, suspected members of the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan, a communist breakaway rebel faction, also shot dead a certain Generoso Caballero in Brgy. Orong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on March 6.

The NPA had claimed responsibility for the assassination of Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade leader Rogelio Magbato, alias Ka Malvar, and two Civilian Volunteers Organization members in Mabinay, Oriental Negros, on Jan. 26.

Last year, two Army intelligence operatives of the 11th Infantry Battalion, five RPA-ABB guerillas and a rebel returnee were among the victims of assassination activities by the NPA in Negros island, military records show.*GPB/RG

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