ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities have lodged a murder complaint against two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels linked to the Oct. 2 killing of a barangay official in Zamboanga del Norte, police said.
Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) information officer, Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, said the case was filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Dipolog City, capital of Zamboanga del Norte, on Wednesday.
Named as respondents in the murder case were Rolando Maglasang, alias Moben, of the NPA’s New Beautiful Country, and Africia Alvarez Rosete, alias Bambam, of the NPA’s Mindanao Regional Guerilla Unit.
Galvez said Maglasang and Rosete have been tagged by witnesses as among the eight rebels who allegedly killed Jose Rey Bongcawel, 44, a barangay councilor of San Isidro, Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte.
Bongcawel was inside his residence when the rebels — clad in camouflage uniforms and brandishing high-powered firearms – reportedly arrived and opened fire.
The barangay councilor suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died instantly.
Recovered from the crime scene were empty shells of M-14 and M-16 Armalite and AK-47 rifles.
Galvez said the murder case against the suspects was received by Prosecutor I Felin Legara-Comidoy.
She said the respondents remain at large. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
