Ex-mayor, 3 others killed inside homes

CEBU, Philippines —  A former mayor, incumbent councilor and a barangay captain were the latest victims in the spate of killings that rocked Negros Oriental.

The victims were identified as Edsel Enardecido, 60, Ayungon town’s former mayor; his cousin Leo Enardecido; Canlaon City Councilor Bobby Jalandoni and Panubigan Barangay Captain Ernesto Posadas.

In the police report, the houses of both Jalandoni and Posadas were almost simultaneously stormed by armed men and shot them there.

Jalandoni and Posadas' homes were sprayed with messages like "Mabuhay ang NPA" and even describing the slain barangay chairman as "traydor ng NPA."

Two hours after, armed men also barged into the house of Enardecido in Barangay Tampocon I, Ayungon.  Both Edsel and his cousin Leo were shot dead inside the house.

With these murders, the casualty count in the series of killings in the province since Tuesday has now risen to 16.

Seven of the victims, including a one-year-old child in Santa Catalina town, were all murdered on Thursday.

Governor Roel Degamo, in a press conference Saturday afternoon, condemned the killings.

"Insakto na. Sobra na," Degamo said.

He said he has asked Negros Oriental Provincial Police Director Col. Raul Tacaca and Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Debold Sinas to conduct a "deeper and more thorough" investigation into the murders.

He also assured Negrenses that amid the killings, the provincial government is still on top of the situation.

At present, the police still have to determine the motive of the killing and they are also looking at if the recent killings have to do with the series of killings in Negros this week.

Earlier, two DepEd officials from Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental were also killed inside their residences.

Sinas, for his part, said there is still no need to put Negros Oriental full alert status, even with the spate of killings in the island.

He said he would have to meet and discuss with the provincial police director and the police force to assess the situation.

“Ako sa silang estoryahon, ngano man among patrolya ug checkpoint dili effective,” Sinas said.

Sinas is expected to be in Negros Oriental today. — GAN (FREEMAN)