MANILA, Philippines — A “hit list” made and being spread by Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok Kumunista (KAGUBAK), an alleged anti-communist group, was presented Tuesday at a Senate hearing probing the spate of killings in the province of Negros.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said sympathizers of the New People’s Army (NPA) are those included in the assassination list that has been circulating.
“Mayroong so-called ‘hit list’ nagcicirculate attributed dito sa Kagubak group na ‘to and it appears to target alleged NPA symphatizers,” Hontiveros said during the joint Senate hearing of Public Order and Dangerous Drugs and Justice and Human Rights.
Hontiveros stressed on the need to take the list seriously as lawyer Anthony Trinidad, one of those included in the list, is now dead.
“And you will note na yung pangalan ni Atty. Trinidad is number 14. Anthony Trinidad. Pero aside from his name, ‘yung first list na 15 names, may 14 pa, probably and hopefully still alive unlike Atty. Trinidad,” Hontiveros said.
Trinidad, who was reportedly tagged as a supporter of communist rebels in Negros Island, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen last month.
READ: Lawyer linked to Reds killed in Negros ambush
Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental police chief Lt. Col. Bonifacio Tecson, however, said five out of 15 in the list have been killed.
“Una is Atty. Trinidad, number 12 si Roberto Caday. Si Ma’am Heidi Malalay Flores, number 15 Boy Litong Ug Anak Niya Nga Sparu (Boy Litong and his son who is a ‘Sparu’ member),” Tecson said.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Central Visayas Regional Director Brigadier General Debold Sinas said they have already investigated the “hit list” last year and concluded that the list is election related.
“We conducted a dialogue sa lahat ng concerned in the city of Guihulngan and it was found out that this one, we concluded this one na parang political in nature. Because this came out just before the election period,” Sinas explained. /muf