The ambush-slay of a barangay captain and six other civilians on Friday in La Libertad town has caused the Philippine Army to field more troopers in the mountainous areas of Oriental Negros, and order the police not to let their guard down.

"We're trying to assess where they are going as that is where we'll concentrate," Brig. Gen. Gregorio Fajardo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander told ABS-CBN yesterday.

He was alluding to initial investigation results that revealed that the incident could be related to insurgency in Negros island, and perpetrated by suspected rebels.

Meanwhile, the police in Negros Occidental have been ordered to remain on alert and ensure that what happened will not occur in the province. Policemen were ordered "to be on alert, and visible," Negros Occidental police provincial director Rosendo Franco, said in the TV interview.

The Army and police consider the ambush as the first incident that could also be related to the May 14 local and national elections, ABS-CBN reports further said.

The victims who were residents of barangay Aya, the farthest barangay of La Libertad, were on a government truck and were about 40 kilometers from the town proper, when the gunmen peppered the vehicle with gunshots.

Among those killed was Aya barangay captain Lydio Baylon, a staunch supporter of La Libertad Mayor Josie Limkaichiong, who had indicated her interest in running for congresswoman of the 1st district of Oriental Negros, against the wife of Rep. Jacinto Paras', Olive.

The army had earlier said Baylon was an active supporter of the military in preventing the entry of insurgents to his barangay.*GCT

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