Village councilor, 3 others surrender firearms in NegOr

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A family of four, including a village councilor, surrendered their firearms to authorities during the conduct of “Oplan Katok” at Barangay Kalamtukan, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental Thursday.

Police Colonel Julian Entoma, provincial director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), said the four members of the Condez family were allegedly part of the “Pulahan group” or persons who believe that they are bulletproof.

“It’s like a cult, relatively a group of people having beliefs or practices, created in the 70s or 80s,” Entoma added.

Among those who surrendered their firearms were Emeluz Condez, wife of the late Johnny Condez, who was a former barangay captain; Barangay Kagawad Ernesto Mayang; Emilio Navarro; and Julie Condez.

The family surrendered three .38-caliber revolvers with two pieces of live ammunition and two homemade 12-gauge shotguns with four pieces of live ammunition.

Entoma said some family members were involved in the killings of two village councilmen who happen to be their relatives – Felipe Condez Jr., 60, a former barangay captain; and his son, Jonesis Condez, 31 in November 2019.

Eleven persons were tagged in the ambush-slay, but only one was arrested while 10 others, who are also members of the clan, remain at large and are facing double murder charges.

Entoma said members of the Pulahan group had helped the government’s anti-insurgency campaign in the province.

“But with the manpower of government forces from the military and police in the area, they were not anymore allowed to fight directly with the rebels,” he added.

All the surrendered firearms are now in the custody of the police.

He said that the Condez family asked the authorities to protect them from their enemies by intensifying police presence in the village and nearby areas.

“They fear for their safety after they surrendered their weapons,” he added.

He assured them that they have enough deployment and presence in the area.

He said that all members of the Condez family who possessed firearms were already accounted for.