Saturday, September 30, 2006 11 political killings in Central Luzon solved: police By Marna H. Dagumboy
CAMP OLIVAS -- Police Regional Director Ismael Rafanan has ordered the full implementation of Task Force Usig for the immediate solution and arrest of the suspected killers of party-list members, journalists and government officials specifically in the region.
Task Force Usig is designed to strengthen the coordination of concerned police officers in the investigation, prosecution and monitoring of offenses in relation to the series of assassinations and attempts on the security and lives of party-list members, media practitioners, government officials and political leaders here.
Police records showed that from 2001 to present, 225 incidents involving the personalities nationwide, with 61 cases filed in court and 164 cases still under investigation.
Accordingly, the task force is envisioned to provide effective and efficient strategic approach in directing and optimizing the forces of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the investigative and prosecutorial aspects for the early resolution of the cases.
In a recent press briefing here, Rafanan said that 11 out of the 22 cases of extrajudicial killings involving activists and related personalities in the region were already considered solved considering that murder cases had been filed in court against the perpetrators.
He said of the 11 cases filed, the latest four cases were the cases involving Barangay Parian chairwoman Victorina Gomez and her councilman Romeo Atienza, who were shot to death after attending a meeting in Parian, Mexico, which also resulted in the injury of Reynaldo Macabali.
Another cases involving Bayan Muna coordinator Manuel Nardo, who was killed in May in Barangay Quebiawan; Victor Concepcion, secretary general of Aguman ding Maglalautang Capampangan who was killed in March in Villa Dolores Subdivision, Sto. Domingo, Angeles City; and Rolando Mariano, a municipal coordinator of Bayan Muna and barangay councilman of Poblacion, Gerona, Tarlac, were also recorded in the region.
Senior Superintendent Perfecto Palad, commander of the task force, said they are asking those who have knowledge on the killings involving party-list members and other personalities to report to the police for the immediate solution of these cases so that justice may be served to their families.
Palad also said that frequent liaisons with the bereaved families and relatives of the victims is continuously being undertaken not only to ease the burden for their untimely loss but to gather fresh information/evidence that would lead to
the capture and arrest of the perpetrators.
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