Bacolod City – The Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental Police Provincial Offices have been ordered by the Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) to create their respective investigation team or task group, to look into the killings perpetrated and claimed by New People’s Army remnants in Negros Island.
PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR regional director, disclosed recently that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as well as intelligence units, will join the investigation task group.
“This is a concerted effort for us to be able to investigate it properly, to identify the suspects,” Ibay said, during a media briefing held on August 18 at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.
The NPA has claimed responsibility, through separate statements issued in the past several months, for the deaths of at least 10 civilians they have accused as military informants in Toboso, Calatrava, Cadiz City, Victorias City, E.B. Magalona, and Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental, and Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental.
We will leave no stone unturned, Ibay said, apparently referring to their investigations into rebel-initiated killings.
Rest assured, we will investigate it thoroughly, he further said.
The group of Roger Fabillar, who has the aliases of Arnel Tapang, Jhong, and Nono, was reported to be responsible for the series of killings of civilians in the hinterlands of Toboso and Calatrava, from 2023 up to this year.
A P1 million reward has been offered for the arrest or neutralization of Fabillar, according to the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion.
Ibay assured families of the victims that the PRO-NIR will use its available resources to solve the numerous killings.
The Commission on Human Rights – NIR is also investigating an initial five cases of killings allegedly perpetrated by rebels, its regional officer-in-charge, Atty. Gazzelenne Corsame-Fuentes, recently disclosed.
Ibay said the CHR has coordinated with them in the conduct of their investigations.
Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, earlier vowed to pursue justice for the victims of the terror campaign of New People’s Army remnants in Negros Island, who have claimed and even boasted of the killings of civilians that they accuse as military spies.
Escanillas said the perpetrators must be held accountable for their crimes.
“We will relentlessly pursue justice for the victims and their families. No effort will be spared in bringing these criminals to justice. The rule of law will prevail,” he added. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)