Negros anti-insurgency task force created

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  —  An anti-insurgency task force has been created in Negros Oriental amid a wave of killings which were blamed on communist rebels.

Gov. Roel Degamo activated the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict during a meeting of the peace and order council in Dumaguete City on Monday.

Brig. Gens. Benedict Arevalo and Ignacio Madriaga of the 303rd and 302nd Infantry Brigades, respectively, expressed confidence that the task force would boost the campaign against communist rebels and prevent more killings.

At least 21 people have been shot dead in Negros Oriental since last week. Four of the fatalities were police officers who were allegedly tortured by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels before they were executed in front of villagers in Ayungon town.

Police said NPA rebels were also behind the killing of a village chief, two rebel returnees and two civilians.

The diocese of Dumaguete is spearheading a multisectoral dialogue today at the Marian Priests’ Center amid concerns over the killings.

“Let us come together to take stock of the spate of killings in our province, to mindfully listen to each other on how these greatly affected us, to reflectively discern and galvanize possible intersectoral collaboration to support our local government in fulfilling its obligations, to conduct prompt investigation on these killings, to bring to justice the perpetrators and prevent the recurrence of these violent, inhumane acts,” Bishop Julito Cortes said in a statement.

The Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, an affiliate of the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas, said 87 extrajudicial killings were recorded on Negros Island since 2017.

At least 300 police Special Action Force commandos will be deployed in Negros to augment local police units in the campaign against criminality.