NPA Assassins Possible In Slay Of Cagayan SB Members, 2 Others’

February 16, 2021 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (February 16, 2021)— Investigators are now looking into the possible involvement of New Peoples Army assassins in Monday’s ambush-slay of two Sangguniang Bayan members and two of their employs in Lasam, Cagayan.
Cagayan Valley police director Brig. Gen. Crizaldo Nieves said the Special Investigation Task Group formed right after the killing are into deep into the involvement of NPAs because (Asuten) had been very vocal against the rebel group.
Lasam Sangunniang Bayan members Marjorie “Jaling” Apil Salazar, 63 and Eduardo Asuten, 67; driver John Rey Apil, 24 and Salazar’s personal secretary Aiza Salvador Manuel, 31, did not reach the Lasam District Hospital alive from their gunshot wounds after still unidentified gunmen peppered the van they rode with automatic gunfire at Barangay Ignacio B. Jurado before lunch Monday.
Salazar was a former town mayor reportedly included in the narco-list released by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, while Asuten was an ex vice mayor.
Two gunmen on board on a blue Hyundai Accent, without plate number and another vehicle, a white Toyota Wigo, reportedly got down from their vehicles and fired just as the vehicle of Salazar arrived in the area.
Cagayan Valley police said more than a hundred spent shells of M16 rifle were found by investigators at the site of the ambush.
Brig. Gen. Nieves said Asuten had also been active in the movement to declare the CPP-NPA and their front organizations as “persona non grata” in Lasam, prompting him to suspect communist guerillas could have a hand in the killing.
Assailants also reportedly left a sign “Sumampa ti NPA” (Join the NPA) before fleeing from the ambush site.

Artemio A. Dumlao