Townsfolk furious over NPA gruesome killing of farmer
Townsfolk in the Municipality of Miag-ao, some 44 kms south of Iloilo City expressed anger and outrage over Sunday's discovery of yet another ghastly killing perpetuated by the communist-terrorists New People's Army (NPA).
The latest victim, 42 year-old Nestor Forcrey was found in his farm bloodied and lifeless by his mother Piameta, the day after he was picked up by at least 15 NPA hitmen. Authorities were immediately alerted of the grim discovery as locals gathered to help the victim's family, all shocked over the brutal killing.
Forcrey was left by his captors with two gunshot wounds at the back and multiple stab wounds on his chest and knee. His murder came after local NPA hierarchy decided they will have to execute him believing that Forcrey serves as a military asset and active informant against the harassment, extortion and criminal activities of said communist-terrorists throughout Miag-ao.
"You got the wrong man," Miag-ao folks in a news statement released to local media said while denouncing what they said "was a classic example of the NPA's penchant for killing innocent victims just to win citizens over to their cause."
The Miag-ao police worked on filing murder raps and a corresponding case before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) against the yet to be identified murderers of Forcrey.
Both the army and local police agree the killing was a handiwork of the communist-terrorist group alongside the letter left on the body of the victim acknowledging that Forcrey's death was an NPA accomplishment.
"Nestory Forcrey....Informer..Aktibo nga asset sang military. PAANDAM.. sa tanan nga mga asset sang military (Nestor Forcrey.. Informer.. Active asset of the military. Beware to all other military assets)," excerpts of the letter stated signed by a certain "Ka Bona of the Bulawanong Silak Platoon, Napoleon Tumagtang Command, NPA, Southern Front-Panay."
The Army has since stepped up its anti-insurgency response in the area as residents join hands and fight the fear and terror sowed by the NPA group.
Major Lyndon Sollesta of the Philippine Army's Civil Military Operations Unit denounced the killing while saying that they are taking seriously the threats of yet more liquidation plot on suspected military assets. This, Sollesta clarified though has not shaken the Army force in Southern Iloilo.
"We are trying to validate the said platoon -- Bulawanong Silak but see, that's how they work, they have this forced projection of their group. They say it is one platoon but actually, there's only a handful of them as members," Sollesta explained in a The News Today (TNT) interview. "They have not increased in numbers, that's for sure but an increase in "presence", all to project supposed force."
A former political leader and supporter of then Congressman Oscar Garin in Sitio Talaytayon, Barangay Oyaoy, the victim was described by neighbors as a quiet man who never caused anybody any harm.
"That is the brand of 'justice' of the NPAs. That's how cruel and dangerous they are -- mere suspicion and they will murder anybody," Sollesta ended.
Family members reached by Bombo Radyo's Peter John Bayasca lambasted the NPAs and supporters of said communist-terrorist group.
The grieving mother appealed for justice as she called on her son's killers, "kung inyo man abi pamilya ang patyon pareho sang ginhimo niyo sa bata ko? Wala kami sang sala sa inyo. Wala gid kamo konsyensa. (What if the same thing that you did to my son will be done to your family? We did you no wrong. You have no conscience at all).
Forcrey's gunshot and stab wounds all point to intense torture inflicted prior to his actual murder. Municipal officials are bent on pursuing the case amidst concerns raised by residents in the town's hinterland barangays of yet more NPA-led atrocities.
"Oyaoy residents nowadays reportedly refuse to go down to their farms for fear that the NPAs are still around. People are also anxious about the economic future or the barangays if NPA infestation will set in again," the news release concluded.