CHR seeks update from police on Bacolod killings

THE local office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) sought an update on the deaths of the father and brother of Ricky Serenio, the top drug suspect of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Negros Island Region, and the killing of the Chinese robbery-killing principal witness in Bacolod City.

CHR-Negros Occidental chief Romeo Baldevarona and his team met with Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, acting director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), at the BCPO headquarters on Wednesday, September 6.

Wanky said Baldevarona told him that the CHR will conduct their own investigation on the incidents, which they suspect to be cases of "extra-judicial killings (EJKs)."

Wanky said the CHR wanted to know the causes of the victims’ deaths, the perpetrators, and if indeed they were victims of EJKs.

On May 22, Wilfredo Serenio, 53, was shot to death by two unidentified men outside their house at Barangay Singcang-Airport.

His son Wilmar, 31, was also gunned down by two unidentified assailants outside their house on April 10.

Senior Police Officer 1 Joshua Barile, assigned at the Intelligence Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame since January this year, was charged for the deaths of the two Serenios.

Barile, however, vehemently denied that he was involved in the killings.

Last January 24, Byron Bacarro, 32, a resident of Barangay 35, was found dead in Barangay Granada, two days after he reportedly retracted his sworn statement, which implicated a dismissed police officer and an active policeman.

The incident involved the Christmas night robbery-killing of Chinese national Changle Wu, 26, son of the owner of JDS Mindoro Enterprises Corp., and security guard Jilbert Mayang, 40, of Barangay Talagacay, Hinoba-an town.

Bacarro was believed to be killed by Police Officer 2 Marlon Famucol and former Police Officer 1 Jason Sumalangcay, based on the testimonies of a 43-year- old witness.

Police Officer 3 Dareen Ann Aguas was also implicated after she was seen with Bacarro along with Famucol and Sumalangcay at the Hall of Justice in Bacolod last January.

The three police officers were charged with murder six months after the incident, but they also denied their involvement in the crime.

Meanwhile, Wanky said he appreciates the CHR's move to conduct their own investigation about the killings and assured them of the police's cooperation and support.

"We see them as a professional and independent body that is credible in the eyes of the people to say if indeed the deaths of the victims are cases of EJK or not.

Wanky assured them that police are always being reminded to follow the rule of law and to be guided by police operation procedures.

He added that there are no EJKs in Bacolod.

The CHR will also probe other killings such as the recent incident in Barangay 16, which led to the death of former Police Officer 2 (PO2) Federico Nicolas and injuries to his policeman-companion PO1 Wilmer Bansag and the latter's 17-year old son.

Nicolas was considered a level two high value target of PRO-Negros Island Region, and was also under the drugs watchlist of BCPO.

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