'BRUTALLY MURDERED'. Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, Director of the Police Regional Office PRO-7, on Friday (July 19, 2019) says the four slain policemen were 'set up' and their movements were monitored. Sinas added in a press conference that the police officers were 'brutally murdered'. (PNA photo by Judy Flores Partlow)
DUMAGUETE CITY -- The four police intelligence officers ambushed by suspected members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) on Thursday afternoon in Sitio Yamot, Barangay Mabato in Ayungon, Negros Oriental were "brutally murdered".
In a press conference on Friday, Police Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7), said Police Cpl. Relebert Beronio; Pat. Raffy Callao; Pat. Roel Cabellon; and Pat. Marquino de Leon, all intelligence officers of the 704th Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 7 assigned in Negros Oriental, were “summarily executed”.
Sinas described it as “cold-blooded” murder.
Sinas said based on early police investigation plus results of the post-mortem examination and the autopsies on the bodies, there were strong indications that they were captured, hogtied, mauled, and shot dead.
He personally visited the crime scene earlier in the day, accompanied by Negros Oriental Provincial Police Director, Col. Raul Tacaca, Ayungon Police Chief, Capt. Romel Luga, and other police officers as part of the ongoing investigation into the deaths of the four policemen.
Each of the four victims bore a single gunshot wound but also showed bruises and other wounds that had caused their instant deaths, he said.
Based on the medico-legal report, the victims might have been on their knees when they were shot on the head from behind, based on the trajectory of the bullet. It appears they never got to fire back and defend themselves, he added.
Sinas said he believes the four were victims of a “set-up” and their movements were already being monitored.
He said the four intelligence operatives were on their way to verify the alleged presence of an armed group, as well as looking at “possible supporters of the NPA there.”
An earlier report said the policemen, wearing civilian clothes and carrying only short firearms, were on board motorcycles and were on their way to the house of Victoriano alias Oto Anadon at Sitio Ilaya Yamot in Barangay Mabato at around 2:30 p.m.
However, before reaching the house of Anadon, an undetermined number of armed men believed to be NPA rebels closed in on them, beat them up, hogtied them, butt-stroked them and later shot them, said Sinas.
Authorities are now questioning the barangay captain, Sunny Caldera, after investigation showed that he had prior knowledge of the operation of the four policemen.
Ayungon police has also taken in for questioning Anadon, now considered a “person of interest”, Sinas said.
Investigators are now piecing together information that would help them uncover leads on who might be behind the “set-up” that led to the murder of the four policemen, he said.
Sinas said he does not believe this was just an ordinary ambush because indications showed bloodstains and perhaps a scuffle that took place in the trail leading to the house of Anadon, where the four victims’ bodies were found.
An ambush would usually entail an exchange of gunfire but in this case, there appears to be none, Sinas said.
The issued firearms of the victims were also taken by the perpetrators, he added.
Anadon claimed he was made to tie the hands of the policemen behind their backs and afterward left the crime scene, but the police were uncertain if this was the case, the PRO-7 chief said.
“We are not sure if he (Anadon) is their agent or contact,” Sinas said.
“If evidence warrants it, we will be filing appropriate charges against Anadon,” he said.
Sinas also disclosed that at least 20 households in the vicinity of the crime scene are now being monitored for their alleged ties to the NPA.
PNP Chief, General Oscar Albayalde, is expected to arrive here Saturday morning to pay respects to the deceased, Sinas said.
The bodies of the police officers will be brought Friday night to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Officer Headquarters in Sibulan for the wake.
On the other hand, Sinas declined to comment on reports that President Rodrigo Duterte will also be arriving this weekend to visit the wake of the policemen.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075512
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