New and grim details have emerged in the apparent execution of four cops in Ayungon, Negros Oriental, by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels last week as the military teams up with the police to arrest the assailants.
Lieutenant General Noel Clement, commander of AFP-Central Command, yesterday said the NPA must have carried out the execution to “threaten” the locals and “take back” the village from the authorities.
“Ang barangay na ‘yon kasi is not an [NPA]-affected area but gusto nilang i-recover kaya ang ginawa nila sa pulis actually is to intimidate at takutin ang mga tao doon para sumuporta na ulit sa kanila,” Clement said.
Clement said the four cops sustained only one gunshot wound each in the head and the trajectory of the bullet was going down, suggesting that no ambush happened and the cops were shot either while kneeling or lying down.
“Based doon sa report ng autopsy nasa SOCO, tig-isang gunshot wound lang sila eh so they were actually executed. Practically ‘yun ang term na ginagamit ng PNP,” he explained.
“Ang initial trajectory kasi is from sa taas, so most likely nakaluhod or nakadapa saka sila binaril,” he added.
Initial police investigation said the victims responded to a citizen’s report about the presence of armed men at Barangay Mabato in Ayungon town last July 18.
The victims were identified as Police Corporal Relebert Beronio, Patrolmen Raffy Callo, Roel Cabellon and Marquino de Leon, all members of the 704 Mobile Force Company, 7th Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Central Visayas.
However, about 20 to 25 armed men stopped them as they reached Sitio Yamot and took their guns, motorcycles, service firearms and personal belongings. The victims were eventually killed by the suspects.
Clement said they have conducted clearing operations in the area to track down the suspects.
However, he raised the possibility that the suspects must have already transferred to Negros Occidental to “lie low.”
But Clement assured that the military and police were doing their best to bring the perpetrators to justice. (Martin Sadongdong)
