Negros Occidental topped the list in the number of murder cases allegedly perpetrated by the New People's Army in Western Visayas, police records show.

Of the 23 murder cases with NPA members tagged as suspects by the military and police from 2006 up to this time, 13 took place in Negros Occidental, eight in Iloilo and two in Capiz, the Police Regional Office 6 said.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, has ordered the police chiefs in Negros Occidental to pursue all unsolved cases in their areas vigorously to give justice to the victims and their families.

This is part of the NOPPO plans and programs for the second semester of 2007, in close coordination with the five pillars of the criminal justice system, Franco said. Police records also show that only 11 of the 23 murder cases have been filed in court. Among the victims of liquidation allegedly perpetrated by rebels in Negros Occidental were former members of the rebel movement, militiamen and civilians tagged as informants of the Philippine Army and National Police.

Region 6 police director Wilfredo Dulay has directed provincial and city police directors to gather more evidences against those cases, which have not been filed in court, and file them as soon as possible.*GPB

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