A former member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was gunned down by six unidentified assailants Saturday while attending a wake in Barangay Abaroan, Roxas municipality.
Western Command (WESCOM) commander Vice Adm. Rene Medina said rebel returnee and farmer Renmark Occenia, alias “MacMac”, was shot multiple times by the suspects while attending a wake at Sitio Ibangan, Abaroan.
Medina said there are “indicators” that Occenia was killed because of his past connection with the leftist movement, but these are still under further confirmation.
“Based on the initial information we have, [his death] is related to being a former member of the communist-terrorist group (CTG) and we are conducting an operation to find out the cause of his death. If there’s evidence linking the CTG, then we will have to file cases against those persons who perpetrated the killing of Renmark Occenia. Bini-verify pa namin kung dating mga kasamahan niya ang talagang may gawa nito,” Medina said during Monday’s regular briefing with the media.
Sources by Palawan News said Occenia was killed by the NPA because he had been active in helping WESCOM in convincing his comrades to lay down their arms and go back to the government fold.
He was also claimed to be a “military asset”, who had been key in several successful operations against the rebels in the province.
Medina said Occenia, like other rebel returnees, had also helped them.
“Maski sino naman na nag-surrender ay talagang tumutulong din sa kampaya natin. Most of them tumutulong, but sila ‘yong mga dating nag-surrender na hindi taga-Palawan — hinahatid namin sila kung talagang saan sila. Yong taga-Palawan tumutulong talaga din sa kampanya namin,” he said.
According to a police spot report sent by P/Lt. Colonel Socrates Faltado, the incident happened around 12:30 a.m. but it was only reported to the Roxas Municipal Police Station (MPS) several hours later or at 6:30 a.m. by Abaroan barangay chairman Henry Cacatian.
The unidentified gunmen immediately fled Ibangan after shooting Occenia.
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