Negros peace and order situation ‘improving’

CEBU, Philippines — The peace and order situation in Negros Oriental is improving after law enforcement there has been beefed up in the wake of the killings, police said.

Brigadier Gen. Bernard Banac, spokesman of the Philippine National Police, said the police cannot recommend that the province be placed under martial law now that normalcy is slowly returning in the province.

“Sa ngayon ay unti-unti nang bumabalik sa normal ang sitwasyon sa Negros Oriental at ang kapulisan natin ay patuloy na nagbibigay ng seguridad doon,” he said in a news briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City. “It is for this reason that the PNP is not keen on recommending to President Duterte that Negros Oriental be placed under martial law.”

Banac, however, clarified the situation might change in the event another major incident happens in the province. He added that local chief executives in the province may have a different assessment on the situation.

From July 18 to 28, at least 21 people were killed in different shooting incidents in the province, including four police officers who were allegedly summarily executed by suspected New People’s Army rebels in Ayungon town.

7 suspects so far

On Saturday, two suspected NPA members with alleged involvement in the killing of the police officers were arrested in separate police operations in Barangay Mabato, Ayungon town.

The suspects are Edmar Amaro, 38, who was caught at around 7:35 a.m., and Jojo Ogatis, 20, who was apprehended at around 12 noon that day.

They were charged for violating Republic Act 9516 for illegal possession of explosives and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, respectively, on Sunday.

Police are still looking for the other communist rebels who killed the police officers, namely Corporal Relebert Beronio and Patrolmen Raffy Callao, Ruel Cabellon and Marquino de Leon last July 18.

Banac said Amaro and Ogatis were identified by a witness who was reportedly present when the four policemen were killed.

“Base sa eyewitness accounts ay baga sila nung grupo na pumatay sa ating apat na pulis,” he said.

The arrests of the two put to seven the total number of nabbed suspects with alleged involvement in the cops’ killings.

The other five include three suspected rebels -- Danny Harold Tancinco, Ronnie Herebias and Marlon Basalo -- who fled Ayungon but intercepted and arrested earlier in Badian town, Cebu. The remaining two have not yet been identified by the police.

3 cases nearing resolution

Police Regional Office-7 Director, Brigadier General Debold Sinas, also revealed that three of the 11 murder cases being monitored and investigated by the authorities are now a step nearer to being closed after they have filed charges against the suspects.

One of those cases involves Marlon and Marjun Ocampo who were shot dead in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental last July 25. According to investigators, they have already verified three primary suspects behind the murder.

The second is the murder of Federicko Sabejon, who was shot dead in Siaton, Negros Oriental last July 26. Police said five suspects have been identified and cases filed against them.

The third is that of rebel returnee, Wenny Alegre, who was shot dead in Poblacion, Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental in what appeared to be a case of land dispute.

Meanwhile, around 80 of the 300 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos tasked to augment the local police in Negros Island have arrived in the area.

“Yung karagdadan pa ay hinahanda para makahabol sila (Others are still preparing for their deployment. They will follow),” Banac said. — Philippine Star News Service