DEAD ON TARGET. The assassin of
former rebel leader Ronald Sendrejas made true his threat
to kill him on his birthday which was last Thursday (9
p.m.). He was shot in front of Ramiro Hospital in the
main street of Gallares, this city. He died with two gunshot
wounds. PNP SOCO Foto |
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A
suspected former leader of the Communist Party of the
Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in Central Visayas
was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman Thursday
night.
The
victim was identified as Ronald Sendrijas y Cempron
who was gunned down 9:20 p.m. while buying medicine
from a pharmacy along Gallares Street, this city. He
was celebrating his 35th birthday last Thursday.
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SPO4
David Niluag of the City PNP said Sendrijas visited his sister,
Aileen Pasagad, who had just given birth at the Ramiro Hospital
last Thursday.
Two
assailants riding on a motorcycle arrived at the vicinity
and the back-rider disembarked from the vehicle, approached
Sendrijas and shot him twice, Niluag said.
Sendrijas
was shot in the back of his head with a 9-millimeter pistol.
The attackers then fled the crime scene towards Visarra Street.
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Pasagad,
in an interview few hours after the incident, said that
her brother had been receiving death threats in the
past several months.
She
said her brother claimed he was under surveillance.
Pasagad also said that a few hours before her brother
was murdered, Sendrijas allegedly received a call through
his cell phone from one of those making the death threats.
According
to Pasagad, her brother showed her one text message,
which said he would be killed on his birthday but did
not identify the persons behind the death threats.
Bohol Provincial Police Director SSupt. Edgardo Ingking
said in a separate interview that the PNP would be checking
on the status of Sendrijas' several cases still pending
in the courts.
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"These
cases were related to his activities as an active member of
the CPP-NPA," Ingking said.
The
military and police operatives arrested Sendrijas (also known
as "Ka Aram" and "Foreigner") in the mountain
village of Gutlang in Argao town, Cebu in May 2004 but was
released after posting bail in August 2006.
Sendrijas
was captured with another suspected NPA commander, Jigger
Geverola, now detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and
Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
Sendrijas,
a native of San Jose, Inabanga, Bohol, had been charged with
rebellion, murder, multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder
and robbery in band.
He
was linked to an NPA raid on the 702nd Provincial Mobile Group
based in Sta. Fe, Danao, Bohol on December 14, 1999 when two
soldiers were killed while the camp commander was wounded.
The troops' firearms and equipment were carted away from the
camp.
Sendrijas
has a pending case for rebellion before the Regional Trial
Court (RTC) Branch 52 in Talibon, Bohol and robbery with serious
physical injuries before RTC Branch 25 in Danao City, Cebu,
Ingking said.
According
to Ingking, Sendrijas was also linked to several burnings
of passenger buses and "violent incidents" in Cebu.
Sendrijas,
who was a seminarian during his school days, used to be the
secretary of the Central Visayas Regional Party Committee
(CVRPC), police said.
However,
after his release from detention in 2006, Sendrijas had been
inactive with the underground movement and later campaigned
for his relatives who ran during the May 2007 elections, Ingking
added.
'CLAN
FEUD'
One
of the angles being looked into by the City PNP is based on
reports that the Sendrijas clan is having an ongoing dispute
with another clan in Inabanga town.
The
feud has allegedly claimed the lives of four, two members
from each of the rival families.
Last
December, the rival clan of the Sendrijas vowed retribution
after one of their family member was killed.
MILITARY,
POLICE BLAMED
John
Ruiz III, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
(Bayan) Bohol Chapter said in a press statement that Sendrijas,
a descendant of Francisco Dagohoy, is another victim of extra-judicial
killing.
Sendrijas
was first known when, as a seminarian, he actively participated
in the protest of the planned Cebu-Bohol Water Deal where
the water from the Wahig-Pamacsalan river will be brought
to Cebu.
According
to Ruiz, after his release from jail in 2006, Sendrijas was
continually implicated in criminal activities instigated by
the military. He was named as a suspect in the killing of
another activist, Victor Olayvar.
After
the 2007 barangay elections, Sendrijas was appointed as barangay
secretary of San Jose, Inabanga. However, according to Ruiz,
the military harassment went on as Sendrijas' residence was
raided by the military.
"He
was murdered because of his political beliefs, his denial
to surrender and be used by the military propaganda machinery
against the armed revolutionary movement and the legal political
organizations," Ruiz said.
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