TACLOBAN CITY- An official of the New People’s Army in the region confirmed that it was their group which raided the town of Lapinig in Northern Samar last January 20 which resulted to the death of a security escort of the town mayor and the injury of two civilians.

In a press statement, the Efren Martires Command (EMC)of the NPA-Eastern Visayas, said that the raid was carried out by the Rodante Urtal Command which operates in Samar Island.

“The Red fighters sought to disarm the police and the private armed group of Mayor (Romualdo) Menzon who are legitimate targets. However, the police fled without even putting up a fight while Aurelio Jullata, a private security aide of the mayor, exchanged fire with the NPA and was killed. The NPA was also able to disarm Police Officer 3 Rowena Opeña, who was not harmed in any way contrary to hysterical statements by the 8th ID,” Ka Karlos Manuel, the spokesperson of the EMC, said in a press statement the group issued yesterday or seven days after the raid happened.

The raid took place at past 6 p.m. on January 20 was said to have been carried out by about 50 NPA members who were on board a dump track and two habal-habal motorcycles.

In an earlier interview, Mayor Menzon said that he was not the target of the raid that resulted to the death of his security guard, Jullata and Romeo Senobio Sr. and his son Romeo Jr. who were inside their house at the time of the incident.

But while the NPA admitted that they were the ones who carried out the raid, they denied that they have looted the houses of the civilians and hurt them as claimed by the military.

“It is also routine for the NPA to stop and put civilians out of harm’s way in the course of tactical offensives, as well as check houses and secure the perimeter of the operation. These malicious charges of the 8th ID are nothing more than hysterical rantings born out of sheer humiliation,” Manuel said.

He added that they would also conduct an investigation why there were innocent civilians who were injured during the raid.

The NPA members, he said, are subject to disciplinary action if civilians are put at risk, unlike the military which ‘wallows in impunity for rights violations.”

But Manuel admitted that during the raid, they have planted several explosives which he said were meant for government forces and not to the civilians.

By Joey A. Gabieta
Staff Writer