THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Negros Occidental assured on Thursday, July 18, to help resolve the murder incidents and other atrocities committed by the New People's Army (NPA) in Moises Padilla.
The family of the victims personally met with CIDG-Negros Occidental head, Police Lieutenant Colonel Luke Ventura, at Camp Alfredo Montelibano in Bacolod City. They were accompanied by their lawyers.
The victims, one of whom was the wife of slain town councilor Jolomar Hilario, said they all want to know who gave the order to the NPA rebels or who was behind the killings.
Hilario's wife has a strong belief that her husband's murder was "politically motivated" and that a local politician could have paid off the rebels in exchange for assassinating her husband.
Ventura told the complainants that since they have already filed charges against several suspects over the murder, they are still waiting for additional witnesses to approach them and give their testimonies.
But he said they have yet to receive the official case from the Moises Padilla Police Station.
Ventura said the additional statements from witnesses can be added as a supplemental affidavit to the other affidavits that had already been filed earlier.
He said they will coordinate with the Moises Padilla police in order to resolve the issue and arrest the perpetrators.
The victims' next of kin have sent a letter last month to the CIDG national headquarters calling for a “quick resolution” to their cases.