Two barangay captains and some civilians accused of being military informants in northern Negros are reportedly included in the hit list of the New People’s Army, Lt. Col. Efren Morados, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, said yesterday.

Morados, who withheld their identities, said they have informed the targeted barangay officials about the death threats, and have also initiated precautionary measures to thwart the rebel liquidation activities.

Police records show that on April 1, suspected rebel assassins shot dead a policeman and a police asset in front of the public market in Escalante City.

Morados said the two barangay officials got the ire of rebels for mobilizing their constituents, and for not allowing insurgents to enter their areas. Meanwhile, civilians tagged as military informants, were accused of being actively involved in anti-revolutionary activities.

Early this year, the NPA Roselyn Pelle Command announced that it has issued arrest warrants against three civilians, including a retired Constabulary officer, accused of alleged landgrabbing, murder and frustrated murder in Calatrava and Toboso towns.

Morados said they are also on guard against possible tactical offensives that may be staged by the NPA in northern Negros, after several attempts of the rebel group to do so were pre-empted.

The Apolinario Gatmaitan Command of the NPA also recently issued an order of arrest against a local official and five members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade for the death of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles.

Morados said they have monitored attempts of the NPA in northern Negros, who visited the hinterland barangays of Bandila in Toboso, Malatas and neighboring areas in Calatrava, to discredit the “Marching for Peace, Serving the Countrysides” program, jointly initiated by the provincial government of Negros Occidental, military, police and civil society groups.

The 13-day peace and development program in six hinterland barangays of Escalante City, Toboso and Calatrava, benefitted about 20,000 barangay residents, military records show.*GPB

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