• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Following the killings claimed by remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA), the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office said it remains in full control of the peace and order situation in the province.
“We will not allow terror and violence to define our communities,” PCol. Rainerio de Chavez, police provincial director said.
He added that by the NPA’s admission of the heinous acts, it shows “more than desperate attempts by the local terrorist group to gain attention from the government, sow fear among innocent civilians, and reassert their presence in areas where they have already suffered tremendous losses”.
“By targeting communities through intimidation and violence, they seek to revive their extortion schemes and disrupt the lives of peaceful residents,” he added.
De Chavez assured the public that intensified investigations are ongoing to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the cowardly attacks.
In a statement, the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command owned up the killing of five civilians in Toboso town.
Mayor Richard Jaojoco said on Thursday (July 3) that in Toboso, the NPA remnants have killed four civilians, whom they accused as intelligence assets of the Philippine Army.
Jaojojo said he is coordinating with the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police on how come up with a long term and sustainable solution to the spate of killings in Toboso.
Similar killings were also reported in Calatrava, E.B. Magalona, and Victorias City in the past months.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights-Negros Island Region (CHR-NIR) is set to start a probe on the series of killings in northern Negros, which already claimed the lives of seven civilians.
Vincent Parra, CHR-NIR Investigation Division chief, said Thursday they will conduct a motu propio investigation. | GB
