NPA hit men eyed in murder of PDEA agent

Koronadal City – Hit men of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) are being blamed for the killing of a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confidential agent in Surallah town in South Cotabato on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Rufino, provincial police director, said Reynaldo "Boy" Fernandez, 35, a resident of Barangay Libertad in Surallah was shot to death inside the Surallah Central Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon.

Fernandez suffered multiple gunshot wounds in his head, nape and jaw.

Surallah Mayor Jessie Bendita, in a radio interview yesterday morning, pointed to the NPA as responsible for the killing of Fernandez.

"Parang sparrow yung tumira sa kanya. Yung style kasi ng pagtira parang sparrow. Bahagi ng ulo yung puntirya (It looks like the Sparrows because of the style used. The head was targetted.)," Bendita said.

The Sparrow Unit is the killing machine of the NPA formed to liquidate abusive government officials, cops, military officials and civilians in the '80s. The group was later dismantled for unknown reasons.

As to the reports that Fernandez’ killing was carried out by a drug syndicate operating in Central Mindanao, Rufino said they are also investigating that angle.