"Word war" heats up on Capalla killing

CEBU, Philippines - Who was behind the killing of Romeo Capalla, former NPA commander and younger brother of Davao Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla? No one wanted to own it up.

The Philippine Army declared that government forces will neither indulge nor tolerate such act, while the NPA and even the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) also washed their hands on the murder.

As police investigators have been groping to identify Capalla's gunmen, the Bayan Muna-Panay hinted of a possible connivance between the RPA-ABB and the Philippine Army in killing the former rebel Capalla.

Brigadier Gen. Arnold Quiapo, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, however maintained the military had nothing to do with the incident and claimed instead that "internal conflict" within the rebel group could have something to do with the killing.

In an interview over Bombo Radyo, Veronica Capilastique, wife of slain RPA-ABB leader Demetrio Capilastique alias Hugo, appealed to spare her husband. Her appeal came after insinuations that Capalla's killing was an act of retaliation from the RPA-ABB against the NPA that owned up to Capilastique's ambush.

Yesterday, the special investigation task group met with the media but did not show the computer-generated composite sketch of one of the two suspects "as it might jeopardize follow-up operations."

Chief Insp. Joseph Euje Almaquer, operations chief of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, also said they have CCTV footage showing how the two gunmen shot the 65-year-old Capalla Saturday evening in the public market of Oton town in Iloilo. (FREEMAN)