SUSPECTS CHARGED: NPA admits killing four cops in NegOr ambush

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Mt. Cansermon Command of the New People’s Army (MCC-NPA) on Monday claimed the July 18, 2019 ambush at Barangay Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental which killed four police officers.

The rebels issued the admission days after charges for multiple murder and theft were filed against about 20 suspected NPA members.

In a statement sent to the media, MCC-NPA spokesperson Dionisio Magbuelas said slain Police Corporal Relebert Beronio, and Patrolmen Raffy Callao, Roel Cabellon, and Marquino de Leon have been long harassing the residents in the area for allegedly supporting the revolutionary movement.

In fact, the residents were forced to evacuate because of their alleged intimidation.

“Based on their intelligence report, the policemen, who were all intelligence operatives and members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-7, were allegedly gathering information and surveillance at the area for another Oplan Sauron or Synchronized Enhanced Management Police Operations (SEMPO), “wherein innocent civilians are killed by uniformed personnel in the guise of counter-insurgency efforts,” Magbuelas added.

The group alleged that they recovered from the slain policemen four .9mm-caliber pistols, nine magazines, 135 pieces of ammunition, and list of names of their targets.

“It has been proven that the fascist US-President Rodrigo Duterte regime has long been using elements of reactionary armed force to threaten, intimidate, harass, and even killing of the people,” Magbuelas added.

“Through this successful tactical offensive, we have foiled the enemy’s plan of repression and terrorism towards the people.”

The group said “let this be a warning to the reactionary fascist regime that the NPA is ever determined to frustrate your all out offensives and to punish for all the brutal crimes against the people.”

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Raul Tacaca, director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), confirmed yesterday that charges were filed against Victoriano Anadon Jr., five others, and several John and Jane does last Friday.

Tacaca said Anadon and five others were identified by witnesses to have direct involvement in the killing.

On July 18, the slain policemen were supposed to meet Anadon to verify reports about the alleged presence of NPA at Sitio Yamot, Barangay Mabato when they were reportedly waylaid by about 30 to 40 armed men.

They were disarmed, hogtied, tortured, and executed.

Their service firearms and person belongings were also carted away by the armed men.

Tacaca said Anadon was arrested after police confirmed his links with the NPA.

He allegedly tied the hands of two policemen while his five other companions executed the four cops, Tacaca said.

It prompted the authorities to think that the attack was a setup since the policemen were already identified as law enforcers even before they went to the area.

Anadon is detained at Ayungon Municipal Police Station while the five other identified suspects are still at large.

Tacaca also said the village chief will be subjected for investigation to determine if he also had lapses since he knew about the police officers’ plan of verifying the presence of armed men.

Tacaca said investigation is ongoing for the identification of other perpetrators and to determine other possible persons behind the attack.