MANILA, Philippines — Communist rebels have claimed responsibility for the killing of a businessman in Toboso, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.
The Roselen Jean Pelle Command-Northern Negros Guerrilla Front of the New People’s Army (NPA) said its fighters killed Juvie Sarona in Barangay Bug-ang at 7 p.m.
In a statement, the group said communist rebels killed Sarona and burned a tractor owned by his father.
The NPA claimed Sarona was the leader of a group behind the murder of nine sugarcane farmers in Sagay City in October 2018.
It claimed Sarona’s group was involved in gun-for-hire activities and was being backed by the police and military.
The NPA also accused Sarona of being a land grabber.
Police are working on leads to identify Sarona‘s killers.
The businessman was shot by unidentified men who barged into his house while he was having dinner.