BACOLOD CITY — Six persons were killed while 15 were captured in simultaneous police operations against loose firearms and illegal drugs in 25 towns and cities in Negros Oriental on Thursday.
Senior Supt. Raul Tacaca, Negros Oriental police director, said the simultaneous raids also yielded 21 assorted firearms and explosives.
Of the six persons who fought the authorities during the police operations, five died in Guihulngan City and another one died Santa Catalina, all in Negros Oriental, according to Tacaca.
He added that of two of the 15 arrested suspects were Barangay officials in Tacpao and Trinidad, also in Guihulngan City.
Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said they were assisted by the Police Regional Office 7 and Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office in serving 26 search warrants in the mountainous villages of Guihulngan City, La Libertad, Mabinay, Santa Catalina, all in Negros Oriental.
Madriaga added that the Police Regional Office 7 secured 119 search warrants from the court, of which more than 80 police targets are in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
The series of police operations against loose firearms in Guihulngan City’s hinterland barangays were conducted a day after the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros marked the 50th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines in an undisclosed place in Negros Island, as reported earlier by Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command.
The police operations in Negros Oriental was supported by the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy assets.
The NPA said five civilians, including a barangay kagawad, were killed as the police and Army conducted search operations in Guihulngan City on Thursday.
Ka Ann Jacinto, Leonardo Panaligan Command deputy spokesperson, said the five innocent civilians were killed during the search.
A police source said the law enforcers had served search warrants in the mountainous barangays in Guihulngan.
Jacinto said four persons died in Barangay Trinidad and one in Barangay Buenavista. A construction worker, identified as Jesus Isugan, was killed in Barangay Buenavista.
Jacinto’s parents, Delia and Dominador Isugan, both members of Kaugmaon, a legal organization of farmers, were taken into police custody.
The 94th IB and the PNP conducted the operation in Buenavista, but no firearm was recovered from the Isugans.
In Barangay Tirinidad, four persons were killed, including a barangay kagawad, identified as one Boy Cinco. The others who died in the village were Jimmy Far, Jun Kubol, and Reneboy Fat.
Any Army source, who asked not to be named, said 6 were killed, 15 captured and 21 pistols and assorted explosives were recovered. Jacinto said search operations were still ongoing in Guihulngan as of Thursday afternoon.
In a press briefing, Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, PRO-7 director, said they are focusing on Guihulngan City, which they believe has lots of loose firearms.
“We have 113 search warrants in Negros Oriental. Ang 82 ani naa sa Guihulngan City, all violation of illegal possession of firearms,” said Sinas.
As of posting time, the police had only implemented 27 search warrants and confiscated 22 firearms.
Sinas said two the 16 people arrested are incumbent barangay captains in the city. /ee