The Armando Sumayang Command of the New People’s Army yesterday claimed responsibility for the death of its former member in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, whom they accused of being a military informant, and involved in illegal activities.

Rebel spokesperson Andrea Guerrero claimed that Rigor Escura, aside from serving as a military intelligence asset, was also involved in robbery-hold-up activities in Cauayan and Dumaguete City, and was even beating his wife.

Escura, a former NPA member, was waylaid Sunday, hogtied with a nylon cord, and dragged at gunpoint by two armed men wearing bonnets, in Sitio Candabid, Brgy. Tuyom, Cauayan.

However, his wife, Alida, and a nephew whose identity has not been established, were spared by the suspects.

The next day, the body of Escura, that bore gunshot wounds in the left breast and his back, was found  in Sitio Tibak of the same barangay.

Three empty shells and a deformed slug of a .45 caliber pistol were recovered from the scene of the incident.

Major John Andrada, commander of the Army’s 3rd Civil Military Operations Battalion, said he  hopes that the admission of armed rebels in of  killing of their own members, will be an “eye opener” to everyone   blinded by   NPA lies and deception.

“What they did was a barbaric act,” Andrada said, referring to the abduction and liquidation of Escura.

ILt. Rey Balibagoso, 47th Infantry Battalion Civil Military Operations chief, also challenged militant human rights advocates to denounce the NPA for  another admission of killing a civilian. * GPB

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