4 cops tortured, executed

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 20, 2019): 4 cops tortured, executed

They were tortured and summarily executed.

These were the initial findings of the police, in the killing of four troopers of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 by suspected New People’s Army rebels on Thursday in Sitio Ilaya Yamot, Brgy. Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental, PBrig. Gen. Debold Sinas, regional police director of Central Visayas, said yesterday.

Sinas, who inspected the crime scene in Ayungon, Negros Oriental, yesterday said that the four police officers were captured and hogtied before executed.

It was the second biggest number of casualties suffered by the police in their internal security operations in Negros Oriental since 2017, after six police officers and a civilian also died in Guihulngan City, where the ambush incident was claimed by the NPA.

Initial police investigations showed that that the four victims riding in three motorcycles were approaching the house of Victoriano Anadon, alias Oto, when they were waylaid by a group of suspected NPA rebels

The four victims, identified as PCpl. Relebert Beronio, Patrolmen Raffy Callo, Roel Cabellon and Marquino de Leon, were all members of the 704th Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 assigned at a police outpost in Brgy. Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental.

In a press conference at the headquarters of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, Sinas said that the four police intelligence officers, who had disguised themselves as foresters, had been set up, as the rebels estimated at 30 to 40, had apparently been waiting for them.

He said the four, who initially resisted, were subdued and hit with rifle butts. Some of them suffered fractured ribs and hematoma, the results of autopsies showed, Sinas added.

In a sense, it was an ambush, but there was no exchange of fire, he also said.

They were brought to the house of Anadon, where they were summarily executed, Sinas said.

Police investigations also showed that it was Anadon, who tied the policemen with nylon cords. Each of the victims suffered a lone gunshot wound on their heads, he added.

Sinas added that the four were either sitting down or kneeling when they were shot in the back. “The trajectory of the bullet was from above. It was cold-blooded,” the regional police director also said.

One of the four victims was also observed to have a slash injury in his throat.

Anadon is now under police custody, as he was classified as a “person of interest”, and may face charges for conspiracy to commit murder, Sinas also said.

He added that they are determining if the barangay captain is liable for the death of the four policemen, as he did not inform the victims that area is a mass base of the New People’s Army, although he is cooperating in their investigations.

Sinas said the fleeing rebels also took the personal belongings and valuables of the slain policemen, aside from their guns.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office yesterday condemned the brutal killing of the four RMFB 7 personnel

Col. Romeo Baleros, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, yesterday relayed his sympathy to the families of the victims, and called on the CPP-NPA to stop the killings, that he described as ”barbaric and inhuman acts”.

Baleros asked the general public to help them in their campaign against terrorist groups.

“These terrorists have nothing in mind but to create fear among the populace”, he said.

PEACE TALKS

The PNP also said that the brutal killings of the four policemen shows the insincerity of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in pursuing the peace agreement with the government.

“For the nth time, the CPP-NPA has shown its insincerity to forge a peace agreement with government by continuing to wage its campaign of terror and oppression against the peasants, and tribal communities in the countryside,” PNP Deputy Spokesperson Lt. Col. Kimberly Molitas said in a statement.

“Still not satisfied with the blood of their prey, the terrorists also looted the dead of their firearms, valuables and personal belongings, and drove off with the victims’ motorcycles,” Molitas said.

He also said the PNP assures the families of the victims of all available assistance that the government can extend “if only to ease their suffering over this tragic loss.”

She added that a joint police and military pursuit operation is ongoing to arrest the persons behind the crime.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año and PNP chief Oscar Albayalde are scheduled to visit the wake of the four policemen in Negros Oriental today.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/July/20/topstory2.htm