Police still clueless on slain couple in Oton

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Without any hard evidence and proof, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) will not confirm the identities of the two elderly persons who were found dead in a house in Oton, Iloilo last year.

So far, the police only have the statements of former Ilonggo activist and now National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) consultant Jeffrey Celiz, or Ka Eric Almendras, claiming that the slain persons were ranking members of the New People’s Army.

 

“‘Yan ang sabi ni Jeffrey Celiz. We are verifying the real identities,” Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police chief.

 

While he believes Celiz, Miranda said that their investigation needs more proof.

 

“Iba ang claims sa proof ng investigation ng pulis. I couldn’t negate his (Celiz) statement because it appeared that he personally knew them. But as far as the PNP is concerned, we rely on the investigation, we rely on the evidence that we have gathered,” he said.

 

Celiz had earlier pointed out that the two bodies found in a rented house at Barangay Botong Oton on Dec 26, 2020 were that of Antonio Cabanatan and Elsa Renton, both ranking leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Miranda said physical evidence is needed to confirm if the bodies were that of Cabanatan and Renton.

 

“Gusto ko nga may mag claim para magkaalam alam na tayo,” he said.

 

But if there would be no claimants, Miranda said the remains would be afforded decent burial.

Celiz had earlier claimed to have known the two slain persons, as they were together in Compostela Valley from November 2005 until January 2006.

 

 

WHO IS ANTONIO CABANATAN?

Meanwhile, Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, said that they have already asked authorities in Guiuan, Samar to verify the identity of Cabanatan.

 

“There were many Cabanatans in Guiuan but no one knew Antonio of the CPP-NPA,” he said.

 

The Antonio Cabanatan of the CPP-NPA they knew was born on March 2, 1947 in Samar. He also used the names Commander Renato, Boktot, Tobo, Tess, Tony, Steve, and Nelson.

A hunchback, Cabanatan had been a member of the CPP Politburo and CPP Executive Committee. He was also a secretary of the Komisyon sa Mindanao.

He had a standing warrant of arrest for robbery with double homicide and damage to properties issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Bayugan, Agusandel Sur.

He was also charged for murder in Palo, Leyte.

He was listed as one of the most wanted persons affiliated with CPP-NPA with a P7.8-million reward for his arrest.