A farmer allegedly working as a military informer was shot dead by members of the New People’s Army (NPA )in Magpet, North Cotabato Friday .
North Cotabato police director Col. Maximo Layugan identified the victim as Rogelio Debalid, 49, of Sitio Buay-Buay, Barangay Basak, Magpet.
Layugan said the victim who was working at his farm with his son in Sitio Natayucan, Barangay Balite, Magpet, was approached by two unidentified men and shot at close range.
The victim died on the spot. His son was left unharmed.
Layugan said that after the killing, the gunmen told the son that they were members of the NPA Guerilla Front Committee 53 operating in the border of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur provinces.
Eight empty cal. 45 shells used by the gunmen in the shooting were recovered in the crime scene.
Layugan said the victim was suspected as a military informer in the area by the NPAs.
The identities of the killers are being established based on the description by the son and locals.
The NPA, the armed militia of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has long been tagged as a terrorist organization by the Philippines, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. (Rommel F. Lopez)