Police have linked two alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to a fresh killing in Purok Tuburan, Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on Monday afternoon, February 23.
Authorities identified the suspects as Jeck Abela alias “R-Jay” and Ritchie Verano alias “Makoy” or “Akiro,” both around 30 years old and residents of Guihulngan City.
The victim, Renante Vedarte, 39, was reportedly about to board his motorcycle at around 4:30pm when the suspects allegedly approached and shot him in the head using an unidentified caliber firearm.
Personnel of the Kabankalan Component City Police Station, who were conducting a follow-up investigation on a separate stabbing incident nearby, heard gunshots and immediately responded to the scene.
A joint hot pursuit operation was launched in coordination with the Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion – Negros Island Region.
An armed confrontation reportedly occurred during the pursuit.
Authorities claimed one of the suspects may have been wounded after a blood-stained slipper was recovered at the scene. However, the suspects managed to evade arrest.
Vedarte was rushed to Lorenzo Zayco District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
The fresh killing occurred in the same barangay where 74-year-old Leonora Angguit was earlier slain outside her home.
Angguit had been accused by NPAs of serving as a military informant — an allegation reportedly linked to a 2025 military operation that resulted in the deaths of seven suspected rebels in what the military described as an “encounter.”
Meanwhile, the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army has documented at least 28 civilian killings allegedly perpetrated by the NPA since 2025. The figure does not yet include the recent killings of two civilians in Central Negros reported within just one week in mid-February.
As of this writing, the NPA has yet to issue a statement.
Hot pursuit and dragnet operations remain ongoing as authorities continue efforts to apprehend the suspects and determine the motive behind the latest killing.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.