Probe on over slay of NDFP consultant in bus in Aritao

Malacanang, rights groups deplore killing 

ARITAO, Nueva Vizcaya -- Authorities are investigating the murder of Felix Randy Malayao, a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines here on Wednesday (Jan. 30) while on board a passenger bus.

Based on initial investigation, the bus he was on was parked at the CCQ bus terminal for a stop-over in this town.

Malayao preferred to stay inside the bus while other passengers alighted to take a short meal.

The assassin took advantage of the situation to get on the bus and shoot Malayao twice which eventually caused his death.

The suspect immediately escaped the crime scene via a motorcycle.

“Maaring ang may gawa nito ay may personal na motibo, mayrong paghihiganti dahil makikita doon sa pangyayari (na) talagang siya ay pinuntahan doon sa kanyang kinalalagyan, doon sa bus at malapitan siyang binaril kaya kilala siya,” Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson said.

Malayao was an activist and a known member of the NDFP peace panel.

NDF chairperson Fidel Agcaoili in a statement said Malayao’s murder “indicates an escalation of attacks against peace consultants” and such an attack now “serves as a further serious obstacle to the resumption of the peace negotiations with the Duterte government.”

Meanwhile, Commission on Human Rights spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia, a lawyer, expressed concern on the timing of Malayao’s murder.

“His death comes at a time when voices of opposition and human rights groups are tagged as enemies, making them possible subjects of assaults,” De Guia said.

Malacañang condemned the attack against Malayao.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said “regardless of the motivation of the killing,” Malacañang condemns the attack against Malayao “whether it’s a personal reason or connected with his ideology. We are against it.”

Government peace panel chief negotiator Secretary Silvestre Bello III, meanwhile said he hopes that peace process will continue between the government and the communist group even despite the sudden death of Malayao. 

The military had tagged Malayao as a ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ Northeast Luzon Regional Party Committee when he was captured in Cainta, Rizal in 2008 after he was implicated in the killing of Cagayan congressman Rodolfo Aguinaldo seven years earlier.

Besides the Aguinaldo killing, the Army said Malayao, who was 38 at that time, was also investigated for the ambush of soldiers in San Mariano town; killing of barangay chairman Nicholas Collado, also in San Mariano; liquidation of Army personnel in Ilagan town and slay of businessman Benjamin Olalia Jr., also in Ilagan.

In a statement at that time, the National Democratic Front-Cagayan Valley accused the military of “abducting” Malayao, who it said was “unarmed” and had a safe conduct pass as the movement’s political consultant.
Then Maj. Gen. Melchor Dilodilo, 5th ID chief, said Malayao was nabbed by virtue of arrest warrants for two counts of murder and frustrated murder issued by the Tuguegarao City (Cagayan) regional trial court.

Malayao also faced a criminal case before the Ilagan (Isabela) RTC.

According to the Army, Malayao, an active student leader at the University of the Philippines, used the nom de guerre Salvador del Pueblo as the NDF’s Cagayan Valley spokesman.

Malayao, the military said, was also known as Panyo, Tonyo, James or Edu in the underground movement who headed the regional education department of the NLRPC, formerly known as the Cagayan Valley Regional Party Committee.