The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command of the New People's Army in northern Negros yesterday claimed responsibility for the assassination of a supporter of former Mayor Santiago Barcelona in Escalante City, on June 4.

The New People's Army enumerated in a statement released to the media, the alleged crimes committed by rebel returnee Romeo Agaton, a kagawad of Brgy. Malasibog, Escalante. The alleged crimes included is being a military agent, involvement in the killing of Pedro Trabajador, a leader of the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers, and a certain JR Sante, serving as a goon of a politician, and harassing people opposed to the project of Barcelona, during his term as the city mayor.

In the presence of his wife, Agaton was shot dead by an assassins, at the vicinity of the Escalante District Hospital last month, police records show.

The police filed murder charges against Edgar Mellama and Macario Pedrano, based on the sworn affidavits of Agaton's wife, Evangeline, who pointed to them as the killers of her husband.

Mellama has a pending case for illegal possession of firearms, police said.

Agaton used to be a former leader of the New People's Army operating in Negros island. He was later elected as barangay kagawad of Malasibog, Escalante, and was a supporter of Barcelona.

On the other hand, the police has yet to make a breakthrough in identifying the suspects in the killing of Eliseo Cumawas, also a supporter of Barcelona, who was shot dead by a group of unidentified armed men in Brgy. Libertad, Escalante City, on May 13.

Police investigations showed that Agaton and Cumawas were among the three persons, including Barcelona, who had been warned that they would be assassinated.

Barcelona, who had reached his last term as mayor of Escalante, was elected as the city vice mayor.

Two incidents of harassments were also reported in Brgys. Buenavista and Tamlang, Escalante City, with two barangay officials, also supporters of Barcelona as victims, two days before the election, police also said.*GPB

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