Top NPA ‘executioner’ falls
Salazar has a standing warrant of arrest issued by presiding Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of Branch 32 of the Manila Regional Trial Court for 15 counts of murder in relation to the so-called Inopacan Massacre of 1985
INOPACAN, Leyte — A suspected leader of the communist movement who is believed to have carried out the execution of a mass purging within the ranks of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the 1980s was arrested in a joint police and military operation in Barangay Tinago, Inopacan, Leyte on Tuesday.
Felomino Salazar Jr., also known as Jun Salazar, Lino Salazar and Celso, is said to be a member of the executive committee of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)–NPA Southern Leyte Front.
Salazar was arrested in an operation launched by operatives of Joint Task Force “TANDAYA,” a recently organized task force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) covering the provinces of Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte.
Salazar has a standing warrant of arrest issued by presiding Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of Branch 32 of the Manila Regional Trial Court for 15 counts of murder in relation to the so-called Inopacan Massacre of 1985.
Witnesses in the unearthing of skeletal remains say most of the victims bore brutal marks of crushed skulls still wrapped with blindfolding cloth, marks of severe flesh wounds and broken bones, even multiple bullet shots.
His co-accused in the same arrest warrant include communist leaders Jose Maria Sison and wife Juliet, Rodolfo Salas, Leo Velasco, Jose Luneta and Prudencio Calubid; National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Eduardo Sarmiento and former priest Nick Ruiz.
According to the military, Salazar was then part of the dreaded CPP-NPA Intelligence Group whose main task during the implementation of “Operation Anti-Venereal Disease” was to identify, arrest, investigate and execute suspected government informants within their organization.
His former comrades who had already returned to the folds of the law tagged him as
taga-ihaw or executioner of the victims of the NPA purging directed by the CPP Central Committee.
The mass purging claimed the lives of about 300 residents in Leyte province, based on estimates of former rebels and the victims’ relatives. The purge was done within the ranks of the CPP-NPA allegedly on orders from its Central Committee to kill cadres suspected of playing informants to the military.
On 28 August 2006, the shallow graves containing skeletal remains of 67 individuals were discovered in Subang Daku village in Inopacan town through the help of villagers.
Witnesses in the unearthing of skeletal remains say most of the victims bore brutal marks of crushed skulls still wrapped with blindfolding cloth, marks of severe flesh wounds and broken bones, even multiple bullet shots.
Col. Zosimo Oliveros, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the arrest of Salazar is “a major breakthrough” for the task force since its creation on 3 July 2020.
During his arrest, Salazar said “I already surrendered to the mayor,” and that he was expecting for his arrest, “but I don’t have any regrets because I am proud to have served the nation under the movement.”
Salazar was immediately brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Station in Ormoc City for documentation and to undergo the proper booking procedure.
His wife Gregoria Salazar, who is allegedly a former staff of the human rights group Task Force Detainee of the Philippines, told arresting operatives that she will hire a lawyer for her husband’s defense.