PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said on Thursday, August 29, that he has ordered the conduct of an investigation into an alleged anti-communist death squad operating in Negros Oriental.

The Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok Komunista (Kagubak) has been tagged in the series of killings in the said province after a hitlist that it had purportedly drawn up was circulated among the residents.

“Personally, first time ko narinig yan pero wala din report din ‘yung ating regional director diyan or even the provincial director on the existence of that alleged death squad. We will investigate that. I will have to talk to the PD there kasi bago ‘yung PD natin doon and I would have to talk with the RD kung totoo ‘yung existence ng death squad,” Albayalde said.

During a Senate inquiry on the spate of killings in Negros Oriental, Guihulngan City Police Chief Bonifacio Tecson said five of the 15 names on the Kagubak hitlist have been killed.

They were lawyer Anthony Trinidad, who was number 14 on the list; Heidi Malalay Flores who was 11th on the list; Roberto Caday, 12th; and Boy Litong and his son, who were accused of being a member of the New People's Army hit squad Sparu, both as number 15.

The spate of killings in Negros Oriental started five days after four policemen were executed by suspected communist rebels in Barangay Mabato in Ayungon town on July 18.

The barangay chairman of Mabato committed suicide after being implicated in the cops’ killings.

From July 23 to 28, 15 people including a one-year-old child were shot and killed in the province.

“Majority sa mga naging biktima ng patayan have only one in common, they have leanings on the left kaya nga tinitingnan natin dito baka puwedeng purging ito on their own kasi ginagawa nila yan. They sacrifice their own and then they blame the security forces, the AFP and PNP. So hindi na po bagong propaganda yan itong mga left leaning groups na ito,” said Albayalde.

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, which had conducted the inquiry, urged the Central Visayas police and Negros Oriental officials to ensure that the 10 persons on the Kagubak hitlist who are still alive would be safe. (SunStar Philippines)