[Inquirer] Three alleged New People's Army supporters were killed on August 1 in Davao City on suspicion they helped the military in killing a top militant leader and in the capture of another as part of the continuing purge of possible deep penetration agents within the NPA ranks.The Philippine army on Wednesday received reports saying the victims, all from the Paquibato district, were killed in "quick succession" in the evening because they were supposedly responsible for the death of Leoncio Pitao, alias Parago, and the capture of Christopher Rollon, alias Joel, by the military.
The first victim, identified as Nelson Anggoy, alias Felimon/Opaw, had a standing arrest together with Pitao. The report said a clash on June 14 this year that left three NPA militants dead was originally an operation to serve that warrant.
The military said that Anggoy was forcibly taken from his residence last Saturday evening by three militants armed with M16s. His body was later found along with several empty bullet shells.
The second victim, Joel Caran, lived just across the river where an clash with Army Task Force Minion led to Pitao's death. Three NPA militants armed with M16s shot him several times while he was sitting in front of his house.
The third man, Henry Delgado, was killed by NPA militants in front of his wife.
Brig. Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr said the NPA purge was nothing new. He said the NPA has eliminated those they believed to be military assets in the past. He said, "They are now murdering their own in an effort to cleanse their ranks, The NPA has exposed its ugly head. We call on everybody to join hands with us to stop this menace to society."