IN NEG. OCC.
39 summary slays recorded;
PNP men top list of suspects

The Commission on Human Rights has recorded 39 cases of extra-judicial killings in Negros Occidental from 2001 up to February this year, with members of the Philippine National Police topping the list of suspects.

Of the 39 killings, 11 were blamed on policemen, six on Army soldiers, New People's Army - 5, Revolutionary Proletarian Army - 4, CAFGU and BJMP - one each, while others were attributed to civilians, CHR records showed. Romeo Baldevarona, CHR provincial officer, yesterday said some of the cases of extra-judicial killings were either pending in courts or are under investigation, while others have already been decided by the court.

The 303rd Infantry Brigade is also gathering more witnesses for the filing of charges against members of the New People's Army who are allegedly behind the spate of killings and other related terroristic activities in Negros island.

Human rights group Karapatan claimed it has documented more than 800 extra-judicial killings after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed power in 2001.

The PNP Task Force Usig formed to investigate the extra-judicial killings, said yesterday that it is now looking at 215 more names listed by Karapatan in their record of "murdered activists".

This was after the police discovered that some of those listed as victims of extra-judicial killings by Karapatan have turned out to be alive. Chief Supt. Geary Barias, Task Force USIG chief and acting Director for Investigation and Detective Management, said, they have yet to ascertain if these names in the Karapatan list are those of real people and see if the alleged victims really exist, and ascertain whether they are dead, alive or missing.

Barias, former provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said Karapatan should be more circumspect in their reporting because inexcusable mistakes not only adds to the job of Task Force USIG, but also cause untold fears to persons who are erroneously included in their list.

Three German journalists and a researcher, accompanied by Karapatan Negros secretary-general Fred Cana, yesterday met with Baldevarona to be updated on extra-judicial killings in Negros Occidental.*GPB

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'BCPO to help Comelec
ensure peaceful elections'

The Bacolod police is prepared to back up the Commission on Elections to ensure peace and order on the last day of filing of the Certificate of Candidacy tomorrow.

Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, Bacolod City police director, yesterday told the DAILY STAR in a phone interview, that they are expecting numbers of supporters to flock to the COMELEC office to show support for local candidates in the May election. Quebrar said he has directed his men to be vigilant to pre-empt possible commotion in the office.

Meanwhile, Quebrar said the BCPO is on a normal alert status in the observance of the Holy Week next month. He said he has detailed policemen in churches, malls and other recreation areas where people are expected to converge to observe the season.

He said he will utilize the 200 on-the-job training policemen to conduct police visibility in several strategic areas in the city. He said the Bacolod Traffic Management Unit is now studying alternative routes in case traffic situation worsens during the Holy Week.*DMG

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Franco justifies deployment
of PMG troops in Murcia rally

Negros Occidental police director Rosendo Franco yesterday urged those with complaints against policemen deployed to maintain peace and order during a rally in Murcia town to file charges against them.

Members of the Murcia Consumer Alliance claimed they were prevented by troopers of the 612nd Provincial Mobile Group from gathering in front of the Murcia Water District office on Monday.

Franco, who justified the deployment of additional policemen, said the 612nd PMG troopers were even lenient to them and exercised maximum tolerance, as the rally had no permit.

They said it was a dialog, but, it turned out to be a rally, he added.

Mayor Esteban Coscolluela who claimed to be a target for assassination, justified the deployment of PMG troopers to Murcia. He said the action was preventive in nature because of the plot against him.

Franco said that if there is any confrontation, at least policemen will be able to immediately neutralize the situation.

Lina Lazanas of the Murcia Business Alliance who was accused as the mastermind in the supposed assassination of Coscolluela, claimed that policemen were out to prevent MUCA members from holding their assembly.*GPB

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