Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday ordered Army field unit commanders to secure the remaining rebel returnees, who may be targets of assassination by the New People’s Army, after the summary execution of a former NPA red fighter in Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

Rebel returnee Freddie Sanchez succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds after he was shot by suspected New People’s Army hitmen at a videokee house, in front of his residence in Barangay Mina-utok Saturday night, military and police records showed.

Sanchez was among the first batch of rebel returnees in northern Negros, who surrendered to the 62nd Infantry Battalion, and availed of financial and livelihood assistance from Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. in June last year.

The summary execution of Sanchez, a former NPA red fighter, was carried out by alleged NPA assassins, almost three weeks after rebels also gunned down former CAFGU member Edwin Flores in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

Lactao said the killing of Sanchez by rebels was aimed to discourage their comrades who may want to abandon the armed struggle, and to terrorize those who have returned to the mainstream society.

Military records also show that Sanchez was among the 44 NPA members who surrendered to the 303rd Infantry Brigade infantry units since last year, and availed of assistance from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.

Inspector Ramil Sarona, Calatrava police chief, said Sanchez, who was reportedly suspected to be a military informant, succumbed to two gunshot wounds in the head, and 10 more in other parts of his body.

Sarona said two suspected rebels entered the videokee house where was Sanchez was singing, and shot him with .45 caliber pistols. The hitmen were reportedly backed up by about 15 armed men.

Lactao, who condemned the brutal killing of Sanchez, raised the possibility of relocating the families of rebel returnees, which, however, will entail more resources and said he will raise this concern to Governor Alfredo Marañon.* GPB

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