Robredo orders probe of Quezon, Zamboanga del Sur massacres

MANILA, Philippines—Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo on Friday ordered a manhunt for the suspects in two separate massacres in Zamboanga del Sur and Quezon province earlier this week.

In a statement, Robredo directed Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, police director for Region 9, and Senior Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, director of Quezon province police, to conduct deeper investigation into the mass murder, which claimed the lives of 10 people, including two children.

“We should not allow these armed and dangerous murderers to roam around and go scot-free,” Robredo said.

Six persons were killed in Sitio (sub-village) Bihing, Tininghalang village in the town of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur last Thursday.

Robredo ordered Estilles to conduct manhunt operations against 10 armed men led by a certain “Amie Andi”, allegedly the leader of a group operating in Zamboanga del Sur.

Police said that Andi’s brother Commander Samang Andi was killed when the victims cooperated with authorities in an operation at their village two weeks ago.

He also ordered Velasquez to look into the  massacre in Lopez town, Quezon province, also on Thursday, which claimed the lives of four people, including two children.