BUGUIAS, Benguet – The Non del Rosario command of the New Peoples Army (NPA) apologized to the family and relatives as well as the community of Bot-oan, Catlubong here for the alleged mistaken identity in the brutal murder of an ordinary farmer and the infliction of injuries to another farmer while they were on their way home after attending a wake in the neighborhood last Tuesday night.
The statement of the NPA, which was written in Ilocano, was read in public by Punong Barangay Melchor Guesey and Chief Inspector Fernando Botagen, chief of the Buguais Municipal Police station, prior to the burial of Samuel Pattian, who died on the spot after he and his companion Ariel Pattian were repeatedly shot by two armed individuals believed to be NPA rebels while on their way home.
The NPA appealed to the family and relatives of the two farmers that their top brass will visit them and talk to them about their severed relationship as a result of the unfortunate incident that resulted to the loss of an innocent life.
It was also learned that the emissaries of the NPA reportedly handed over to the family of the victim at least P50,000 as financial assistance but assured that they will continue to extend utmost assistance to the surviving family members of the victim and his injured companion for his speedy recovery.
According to the statement, the brutal murder of Samuel and the infliction of injury to Ariel was not the intention of the rebels, thus, the command will also conduct the appropriate investigation among their ranks on what were the reasons that led to such untoward shooting incident in a wake at their place.
The NPA called on the people of the community not to immediately conclude on the circumstances of the shooting incident and subsequently lose their confidence on them because the same was not deliberately done and that it was just a product of mistaken identity.
The NPA assured the people in the area that the command will remain firm to its commitment to guard them from future abuses to be committed on the people by various sectors wanting to take advantage of the rich resources and the peace in order in the place.
It can be recalled that Samuel and Ariel just came from a wake in the neighborhood and were supposed to be on their way home when two still unidentified armed men who reportedly disguised themselves so as not to be identified suddenly peppered them bullets from their caliber .45 firearms.
As a result, Samuel was declared dead on the spot by Dr. Hilda Kimakim, the Buguias municipal health officer, while Ariel was rushed to the Lutheran district hospital in Abatan but was subsequently transferred to the Baguio General Hospital (BGHMC) where he was provided with appropriate medical treatment.
Probers disclosed that Samuel had no criminal record and was just an ordinary farmer in their place, thus, the motive of the incident could have been mistaken identity on the part of the gunmen. Samuel sustained eight gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body that caused his instantaneous death.
By Dexter A. See
