Special task force to probe killing of barangay officials

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 23, 2020): Special task force to probe killing of barangay officials (By Lilibeth A. French)

ILOILO CITY, June 23 (PIA) - - The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has created a special investigation task group (SITG) to investigate the killing of the two barangay officials of Tubungan town.

"We formed a special investigation task group to probe who is behind the killing of these elected officials," said IPPO Director Colonel Paul Kenneth, in the agency’s press report released on Monday.

Lucas will lead the group with Lieutenant Colonel Arjun Luig of Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit; Lt. Col. Dennis Gabihan, Provincial Legal Officer; Major Gervinson Moyo, Chief of the Provincial Intelligence Unit; Lt. Col. Hilarion Roga of the Regional Crime Laboratory Office; Lt. Col. Remie Alavaren, Chief of Provincial Investigation and Detection Unit; and Major Marius Amar of Regional Investigation Unit as members.

Other members of the SITG are Lt. Jose Romel Samson, station chief of Tubungan Municipal Police Station, Staff Sergeant Hermani Paras Jr, Investigator-on-Case, and Master Sgt. Francisco Lindero Jr, spokesperson.

It will be recalled that Harold Tablazon, alias "Bornok," 33 years old, single, Brgy. Kagawad of Brgy. Ago, Tubungan, Iloilo, and Glen Bunda, 20 years old, single, SK chairperson, and resident of Brgy Tagpuan, also of Tubungan town, were shot in Sitio Passi, Brgy. Mayang, Tubungan on June 20.

According to IPPO no witnesses have come out to give accounts of the said shooting incident. However, it received information that the New People’s Army released a statement blaming the PNP for the killing.

IPPO vehemently denies any involvement of PNP personnel in the incident.

“It was not a surprise though that the NPA would implicate the PNP in the incident, especially that Tablazon was rumored to be an active sympathizer of the said terrorist group. It is the common practice of the NPA terrorist group to accuse the PNP and AFP every time one of their members or sympathizers is killed,” said the IPPO report.

IPPO said it will remain focused on the investigation and will ensure impartiality to give justice to the victims and their families despite the accusation. (IPPO-PIO/JSC/laf/ PIA6-Iloilo)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1045596