Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, yesterday ordered his men to validate the identities of the two human rights workers and the former spokesman of a Left-leaning organization that were killed in separate shooting incidents in Bicol.
Neptali Morada, 45, reportedly the former spokesman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Camarines Sur chapter, was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman in Barangay San Isidro, Naga City while she was on her way to work at the provincial capitol at 7 a.m. yesterday.
Last Saturday, Ryan Hubilla, 22, and Nelly Bagasala, 69, were onboard a tricycle when they were fired upon by unidentified gunmen in Barangay Cabid-an, Sorsogon City around 8:20 a.m.
The two were staff of the Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights-Sorsogon chapter, according to Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay.
“Of course, we also have to establish kung talagang member ‘yan. Who knows baka mamaya tini-take advantage lang din nila ‘yan or they are saying that ito ay member. You know these people, they take advantage on almost everything kaya kailangan nila i-prove kung talagang member nila ‘yan,” Albayalde told reporters in Camp Crame in Quezon City.
The PNP chief, however, assured that investigations were already conducted to determine the circumstances behind the death of the three victims. (Martin Sadongdong)