NPA tagged in Surigao militant’s slay

CAMP RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City — Police tagged the New People’s Army (NPA) in the Aug. 20 killing of a Surigao del Sur activist, adding that they have identified one of his attackers.

The victim, Hermilino Marqueza, secretary-general of the Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Sur, was gunned down inside his home in Barangay Maitum, Tandag town.

During a press briefing Thursday afternoon, Deputy Director General Marcelo Ele, chief of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, said the NPA might have had a hand in the killing after Marqueza had tried to convince a stepson, who is an active NPA member, to surrender.

"Who else will be at a loss if Marqueza’s stepson surrenders? Di ba ang NPA? So who do you think is responsible here? Of course, yun kaliwa (the Left), the New People’s Army," Ele said.

Ele identified one of the suspects as a certain William Suarez. He, however, did not give more details about Suarez, saying though that the police have filed murder charges against him. 

Ele did not also say if Suarez has been arrested or remains at large.

But Jaime Quita, regional chairman of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), criticized the police for resorting to what he described as a "guessing game" and "witch-hunt" as it refuses to dig deeper into Marqueza’s killing.

"We are worried that Suarez will be another fall guy although we still have to verify if he does exist or not," Quita said.

The KMP and the Peasants Movement of the Philippines in Mindanao have condemned the killing of Marqueza, who they said is the 34th activist slain in Mindanao alone.