FOUR more men were shot and killed early Saturday, July 27, as the spate of killings continue in Negros Oriental.
The latest killings brought to 16 the number of individuals killed in Negros Oriental since July 18, 2019.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos, in reaction to this latest wave of killings, issued another pastoral appeal Saturday and urged parishioners to pray the Oratio Imperata issued by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma against the killings in Cebu.
“This pattern of systemic killings is alarming. Who will be next? We continue to express our collective cry, 'End this evil madness! End these barbaric acts meant to instill fear!'” he stated.
Killed before dawn Saturday according to police reports were:
Edsel Enardecido, former Ayungon town mayor, 60
Leo Enardecido, 45, resident of Barangay Tampocon, Ayungon
Bobby Jalandoni, councilor of Canlaon City
Ernesto Posadas, barangay chairman of Panubigan, Canlaon City
Unidentified gunmen broke into the Enardecido residence and shot the former town mayor dead at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
The killings occurred two days after the first wave of killings claimed the lives of seven people, including a one-year-old boy, across Negros Oriental province.
On July 25, the shooting victims were:
Educators Arthur and Ardale Bayawa in Guihulngan at 12:55 a.m.
Barangay Buenavista Chairman Romeo Alipan in Guihulngan at 1:40 a.m.
Raklin Astorias of Barangay Maloh in Siaton, Negros Oriental at 8:30 a.m.
Reden Eleuterio, a cousin of the Barangay Mabato chairman who reportedly committed suicide, in Ayungon town at 5:10 p.m.
Marlon Ocampo and his one-year-old child Marjon in Sitio Tara, Barangay San Jose, Santa Catalina town at 8 p.m.
About 36 hours earlier, at past 2 p.m. on July 23, lawyer Anthony Trinidad was gunned down in Guihulngan by motorcycle-riding assailants.
The killings started five days after four police officers were allegedly executed by communist rebels in front of the villagers in Barangay Mabato, Ayungon town.
In his pastoral appeal for prayer to end the killings in Negros Oriental and call for justice for the victims, Alminaza cited the Oratio Imperata of Cebu.
“Heavenly Father, the source of life and foundation of peace, we your children mourn, worry, and are anxious because of the successive murders of our brothers and sisters.
We beg you, awaken the minds of those who don’t even care, disturb the conscience of those who author the killings, touch the hearts of those who support the murders, and comfort those who mourn.
Give us the strength to fight evil with good, and to reject crooked ways. Protect us from the lies of the devil, and free our country from the power of Satan. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.” (MVI/SunStar Philippines)