NORPPO welcomes CHR probe on EJKs

CEBU, Philippines - The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO) welcomed the investigation conducted by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on alleged cases of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the province since Operation Tokhang was launched in July last year.

Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas, acting NORPPO director, was told that four policemen from Vallehermoso town were in trouble for the wounding of a suspect and the killing of another, during an alleged buy-bust operation last January 17.

Killed in that “operation” was George Paras, while the wounded was Jose Montemayor who is now recuperating at the provincial hospital.

Montemayor however claimed there was no buy-bust because all four policemen who were at the area were known to him and they saw each other when he and Paras voluntarily surrendered last year. As such, he would neither transact nor sell drugs to them, he insisted.

Meanwhile, Biñas called for a command conference the other day with chiefs of police from the province’s 2nd district, held at the police headquarters in Agan-an village of Sibulan town.

He briefed them on the re-launching of Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded, which would now include participation, although not mandatory, of the community, religious leaders or members, purok leaders or barangay officials.

During the command conference, the list of operatives are being finalized, one team each for the municipalities composed of eight members and two teams of eight members in the cities including one team from the provincial command. (FREEMAN)