Insurgents admit killing leader's sister for 'spying'

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The New People’s Army admitted killing last week Evelyn Pitao, the sister of rebel leader Leoncio Pitao, also known as Commander Parago, of the Pulang Bagani Command based here in Davao City, for reportedly ‘blood debts for her being a military intelligence agent’. 

In a statement yesterday, Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesman of the NPA’s Merardo Arce Command-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command, said the command claims responsibility for the killing of Evelyn Pitao in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte last week. Pitao’s younger sister was reportedly killed by guerrilla operatives of the Ka Paking Guimbaolibot Red Partisan Brigade-NPA, who implemented the capital punishment on the basis of the decision reached by the revolutionary people’s court on February 2009.     – Edith Regaldo