22 January 2007
LEGAZPI CITY—THE NEW People’s Army in Albay admitted having masterminded the killing of Jose Loreno, a former radio broadcaster, who was shot dead Thursday night while tending to his store in Daraga, Albay.
In a statement sent to the Inquirer by the National Democratic Front-Bicol, Greg Bañares, its spokesperson, said the operatives of the Santos Binamira Command enforced the “death sentence” on Loreno, who was “an active agent of the military and a high-ranking leader of the Kilusan Kontra Komunista (KKK).”
Bañares said Loreno was a legitimate target because of his resolute anticommunist stance and “his more than 15 years of active involvement in the fight against the revolution in Albay.”
He added that Loreno was a former NPA member but surrendered to the military in 1987 in Metro Manila and was recruited as a military agent.
The NDF-Bicol said the members of the KKK, some of whom were former members of the communist group, were being used by the military in surveillance, harassment, and political killings.
It warned it would impose “revolutionary justice” on military death squads responsible for leftist killings.
Police said Loreno, 56, suffered two gunshot wounds in the head and died instantly.
Supt. Jose Capinpin, Daraga police chief, said two gunmen approached the former radio broadcaster and fired at him at close range while a third gunman served as a lookout.
He earlier added that Loreno’s killing was not related to his media work and alleged he was liquidated by his former comrades in the communist movement.
The most recent political killing in Albay was that of Rodolfo “Ompong” Alavarado, Albay Bayan Muna coordinator, who was gunned down on Dec. 31 in Ligao City. Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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