Negros Occidental Acting Governor Isidro Zayco yesterday called on local government officials to get their acts together in solving the peace and order problem in Escalante City , where the lives of four persons have already been claimed since the May 2007 elections.

Zayco stressed the need for unity among local officials in the city so its development can move on.

The latest victim of violence in Escalante was Jury Alzado, a former militiaman-turned-closed-in security man of then Mayor Santiago Barcelona, who was gunned down by three young men on Sunday at the public market of Escalante City .

Alzado, also a rebel returnee, sustained 12 gunshot wounds in the head and other parts of his body that caused his instant death, police investigations showed.

Three other supporters of Barcelona, who is now the vice-mayor of Escalante, were also killed in May, June and November last year, while another supporter, Brgy. Capt. Norberto Damalerio, was also injured after his residence was attacked by a group of armed men in late 2007.

Alzado, 55, was employed as security man of Barcelona whose term as mayor expired in July last year. Barcelona ran as vice-mayor of Escalante and won, but his wife, Alice, lost to Melicio Yap Jr. in the mayoralty race.

Yap said the killing of Alzado was an insurgency-related incident.

Charlie Alzado, younger brother of the victim, said the police arrived almost 20 minutes after the shooting incident, although their headquarters is only about 150 meters away from the crime scene.

Chief Inspector Leonardo Angcon, Escalante police chief, said members of the alert team of Escalante police were responding to a commotion in another place, when the shooting took place.

Angcon said the responding policemen may also have been misled in pursuing the suspects who reportedly withdrew on board a motorcycle, when they actually fled on a tricycle.

The younger Alzado claimed that eight more leaders and supporters of Barcelona are reportedly up for liquidation

Letters signed by the New People's Army Jean Pelle Command left by the gunmen at the crime scene, enumerated the alleged abuses committed by Alzado, while serving as a militiaman in the 1990s, and for allowing himself to be used by politicians and sugar planters in Escalante City and neighboring areas.

Barcelona had previously called for the placing of Escalante under Army control.*GPB

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