A special task group will be created by the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office to investigate the assassination of Guihulngan City Inter-Agency Task Force chief, Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan, and her husband, Edwin, by riding-in-tandem suspects on Dec. 15 in Guihulngan City.
PNP chief, General Debold Sinas, ordered the creation of the task group to probe the shooting to death of Sancelan, who was Red-tagged by anti-communist vigilante group calling itself KAGUBAK, or Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok Kumunista, and Edwin, while they were on their way home on a motorcycle in Brgy Poblacion.
Sinas said in a television interview that the Special Investigation Task Group will determine the reason behind the death of the couple.
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has condemned the murder in strongest possible terms, describing it as senseless and brutal, “marked by a desire to end the pro-people service of Dr. Sancelan to her constituents.”
“Dr. Sancelan was branded, vilified, red-tagged and now, executed, by the ruthless pawns of the enablers of systematic killings in this country,” the bishop said.
“Her only crime, much like the soon-to-be born infant Jesus in a manger, was her unselfish service to the poor people of Guihulngan – both as a barrio doctor and as defender of the poor,” Alminaza said.
“Sadly, the same government that was expected to recognize her dedication to government service failed to protect her. If government cannot protect us, how are we ordinary citizens expected to trust this government?,” the bishop added
In a statement, the Guihulngan IATF describes Sancelan as a dedicated frontliner who was instrumental in placing under control the previous spike of COVID-19 cases in November.
“We are confused and in shock of this painful fate befalling our public servants. Even now, we grapple to fill the gaping void Dr. Sancelan left in the service and in the Task Force”, the statement added.
Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong, the Makabayan bloc and the New People’s Army in Negros Island also joined many others in calling for justice and in condemning in strongest terms the killing of Sancelan and her husband.
Limkaichong said that Dr. Sancelan rendered selfless service to the people of Guihulngan, by being the only public doctor servicing its 33 barangays, and being crucial in providing health services to the people of Negros, having also assumed the role of city health officer and city nutrition action officer, and at the forefront of saving others from the threat of COVID-19.
Stressing that rural physicians are the lifeblood of health systems, Limkaichong said, “We must protect our doctors at all cost and safeguard them from all forms of violence and threats”.
Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas expressed dismay that even frontline health workers are not spared from Red-tagging.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said the killing of the Sancelan couple only showed that Red-tagging poses “clear and present danger” to those accused of having links with communist groups.
Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command Regional Operational Command, also issued a statement linking the vigilante group to the killing. The Movement Against Tyranny also decried the killing of the couple. – GB
