Four shooting incidents solved in Negros Oriental, seven suspects hunted: PNP

August 20, 2019

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Tuesday said they solved four out of the 11 shooting incidents in different municipalities of Negros Oriental.

“The Regional Director of Police Regional Office 7 in Central Visayas, Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas reported that... four cases were already solved and referred to the Prosecutor’s Office of Dumaguete City,’ said Police General Oscar Albayalde  in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

The PNP chief said the manhunt is ongoing to arrest seven other suspects. 

According to the records of the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, from July 18 to July 28, a total of 21 people, including four police officers, were killed in separate incidents.

The PNP chief added that the PRO 7 has created Special Investigation Task Groups (SITG) to supervise and monitor the six incidents involving elected government officials and other prominent personalities.

“Such as the murder of Attorney Anthony Trinidad, Professor Bayawa, former Mayor Enardecido, City Councilor Jalandoni, and Barangay Chairman Posadas,” he said.

Members of the New People’s Army ( NPA) claimed responsibility in some of the incidents.

The spate of killing in the province has caused alarm with human rights organizations, including the Commission of Human Rights as they fear martial law maybe declared in the area.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military to give the communist rebels “tit-for-tat” following the spate of killings.

Fears of declaring martial law in the Negros Oriental surfaced after Duterte said he will do something “drastic” to solve the killings. But the military and policemen said Duterte has not yet asked for their recommendations. Ella Dionisio/DMS