Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, director of the Central Visayas regional police, ordered on Monday the police force of Negros Oriental to map out plans in order to stop the spate of killings in the province.
This, after a barangay chairman and his nephew died in an ambush in Bayawan City on Saturday night, the latest of the spate of killings since the execution of policemen in the province a few months ago.
It was recalled that after four police intelligence operatives were allegedly executed by communist rebels in July in Ayungon town, more than 17 deaths were reported in a series of killings. Most of the victims were suspected to be either communist rebel sympathizers or suspected to have links with the military.
De Leon identified the victims as Johnny Semillano Condez, 47, and Danny Marata Jr., 16. They were ambushed in Barangay Kalamtukan in Bayawan City.
Condez was the incumbent chairman of Barangay Kalamtukan.
The minor’s father, was wounded but he, together with Edilito Magbanua, were able to survive the ambush and ran towards the sugarcane field.
“Initial investigation showed that the nature of these killings was family feud. Magkakamag-anak na nagpapatayan. Dapat matigil ito. That is why I’m ordering the provincial director to intervene and stop these senseless killings,” said de Leon in a statement.
Col. Julian Entoma, director of the Negros Oriental police, confirmed the family feud angle, saying the slain barangay captain was the primary suspect in a double-murder case against his own relatives.
“In fact, a search warrant was already being sought against him on information that he was in possession of unlicensed firearms,” said Entoma.
Investigators said Condez’s convoy went to the hill on board a government-issued rescue vehicle and two motorcycles for a mobile phone signal.
“Upon reaching at the place…Condez disembarked from the vehicle without knowing that the perpetrators were in the area. According to the witnesses bursts of gunfire ensued hitting (him), Danny Sr. (and his son),” said Entoma.
Confiscated from the crime scene were 15 empty shells of M16 riffle; two live ammo of 12 gauge shotgun; an empty shell of 12 gauge shotgun; four empty shells of caliber .45; 3 empty shells of cal. 9mm Luger; a magazine of M16 with 30 rounds of live ammo; and a live ammo for caliber .45.
“I have deployed on orders of our regional director six tracker teams to go after the killers and bring them to justice,” said Entoma.
Meanwhile, De Leon also encourages the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct their own probe into the case of Condez.
“The police is more than willing to cooperate with CHR only to end senseless killings in Negros Oriental. Promoting peace and order is a whole of nation approach,” de Leon said. (Aaron Recuenco)