NPA-Albay vows justice for slain activists in Guinobatan town
The New People’s Army-Albay (Santos Binamera Command) vows to attain justice for the two activists shot to death by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Guinobatan town the night before Rodrigo Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Police officers chased four activist-farmers who were painting calls on July 25 in barangays of Guinobatan town in lieu of Duterte’s last SONA. Two of the four were arrested by the police and were later murdered in cold-blood on the pretext of “shooting back” at them.
The two were identified as Jemar Palero, 22-year old resident of Barangay Catomag and Marlon Naperi, 38, resident of Barangay Bololo, both of Guinobatan town. Palero orphaned his only son while Naperi left his five children.
Ka Florante Orobia, spokesperson of the NPA-Albay, expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family and said that the crime will not go unpunished.
On top of the brutal crime, 32 barangays in five towns of Albay have been subjected by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under its Retooled Community Support Program. Seven of these villages are in Guinobatan town alone.
These operations have been marked by the murder of Barangay Captain Luzviminda Dayandante and treasured Albert Orlina of Batbat, Guinobatan, illegal arrest and detention and other rights abuses.