Task force to probe extralegal slays in Escalante City

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – President Aquino has ordered the creation of a multi-agency task force to investigate extralegal killings and other illegal activities in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales have issued joint Department Order No. 04-2011 dated Oct. 13 creating and constituting the task force.

Task Force Escalante will be composed of one representative each from the DILG, DOJ, CHR, Escalante City government, and a civic organization.

In his department order dated Nov. 9, Robredo said the President has instructed them to investigate the reported extralegal killings in Escalante and make recommendations to the Office of the President.

According to the joint department order, the task force has 45 days to conduct the investigation although the period may be extended, and 15 days to prepare its report.

At present, Escalante officials and the local police have yet to settle their differences, which were further aggravated by the relief of 12 policemen two weeks ago.

Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. and the city council said the order of Western Visayas police director Cipriano Querol to relieve the 12 policemen was unjustifiable and was an insult to them.

Of the 53 policemen assigned to Escalante, 22 have been relieved this year, including Yap’s three security escorts.

The 22 policemen were allegedly linked to the series of extrajudicial killings in Escalante since 2007.

The killings were blamed on Yap’s administration although the New People’s Army (NPA) had owned up to majority of them.

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has been directed to strip Yap of his supervisory authority over the local police because of his alleged links to the NPA, based on a confidential report of Querol and former Napolcom regional director Honey Paredes.

Yap has denied the accusations, saying he has not used the local police for his own advantage or for any illegal activity.

Citing police reports, Yap and the city council said Escalante is still relatively peaceful with a lower crime rate compared to other cities in Negros Occidental.

Right after the relief of the 12 policemen two weeks ago, the city council passed three resolutions. In the first resolution, the city government withdrew its support for the local police, including office supplies and equipment and the use of the building housing the police headquarters.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental police director, said seven of the 12 relieved policemen would be reinstated as they had been cleared of any involvement in the killings.

The seven policemen, whose identities were withheld, would be reassigned to Escalante next week after their official clearance papers are issued, he said.

Last Monday, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he would arrange a meeting to settle the conflict between Yap and Guisihan.