The New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has claimed responsibility for the killing of a police officer in Barangay Teniente Benito, Tubungan town, Iloilo province.

Master Sgt. Arnel Paurillo, 42, was shot to death at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, June 13, by four gunmen who identified themselves as members of the NPA’s Napoleon Tumagtang Command.

“Madinalag-on nga napatuman sang isa ka yunit sang NPA sa idalom sang Napoleon Tumagtang Command ang pagbanat kay Paurillo,”Ariston Remus of the Napoleon Tumagtang Command said in a statement.

Remus accused Paurillo, a member of the Provincial Drug Enforcement of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), of protecting a drug syndicate allegedly operating in the town.

“Ang Napoleon Tumagtang Command hugot nga nagapahanumdom sa tanan nga mga masupog nga kontra-rebolusyonaryong elemento nga mag-reyalisa na sa ila indi matarung nga buluhaton kay ang pagpanggas sang indi maayo nga binuhatan magapanumbalik sang kalainan,” he said.

Paurillo, a resident of Guimbal town, sustained multiple gunshot wounds on different parts of his body and was declared dead on the spot.

The victim was found lying on the bloodied kitchen floor of his friend’s house.

According to Police Lt. Jose Ramil Samson of the Tubungan Municipal Police Station, Paurillo was waiting for an intelligence operative to plan the arrest of a wanted person in Barangay Teniente Benito.

The Police Regional Office (PRO-6) condemned the “treacherous killing” of Paurillo while performing his law enforcement duty.

PRO-6 Director Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan ordered “an in-depth investigation to identify and arrest the suspects in order to give justice to the brutal killing of Paurillo.”

“Let us continue to unite and stand against terrorism in Western Visayas so that these ruthless criminals would finally meet their end,” he said.

Pamuspusan appealed to all those who have knowledge of the incident to cooperate in the investigation. 

He assured that witnesses will be given due protection and that their identities will be kept secret.IMT