Negros cops tortured before execution — probers

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — They were tortured and summarily executed.

These were the findings of the police in the killing of four troopers of the police Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Thursday in Sitio Ilaya Yamot, Brgy. Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental.

Police regional director Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said the four police officers were captured, hogtied and summarily executed.

It was the second biggest casualty suffered by the police in their internal security operations in Negros Oriental since 2017, where six policemen and a civilian were killed by the NPA.

Initial investigation showed that as the four policemen riding on three motorcycles approached the house of Victoriano Anadon, alias Oto, they were attacked by a group of NPA rebels.

The four policemen were identified as Cpl. Relebert Beronio, Patrolmen Raffy Callo, Roel Cabellon and Marquino de Leon, all operatives of the 704 th Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7.

Sinas said the four policemen, who were disguised as foresters, had been set up as an estimated at 30 to 40 gunmen had been waiting for them.

He said the four policemen initially resisted but were subdued and hit with rifle buttstocks. Some of them suffered fractured ribs and hematoma, based on the results of autopsy, Sinas added.

In a sense it was an ambush, but there was no exchange of fire, he added.

They were brought to the house of Anadon, where they were summarily executed, Sinas said.

Anadon reportedly hogtied the policemen with nylon. Each of the victims suffered a gunshot wound in the head, he added.

Sinas added the victims were either sitting down or kneeling when they were shot at the back.

Anadon was taken into police custody over the killing of the four policemen, Sinas said.

Meanwhile, another police officer was wounded in the attack by NPA rebels in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. – With Ben Serrano