Negros Occidental solon faces murder raps over extrajudicial killings
The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted former Escalante City mayor and now Negros Occidental first district representative Melecio Yap Jr. for murder over a spate of extrajudicial killings in the city since 2007.
In a statement on Thursday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said she found probable cause file four counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder against Yap and 15 vigilantes who have purported ties to the New People’s Army: Richard Patpat, Rolando Catayan, Joel Villarin, Jay Vargas, JR Buhat, Gregory Tuayon, Bernardino Patigas, Hernando Llorente, Rolando Llamata, Lorenzo Perolino, Joey Llorente, Eleazar Navas, alias Renan, alias Bam-Bam, and alias Bob Soler.
According to the Ombudsman’s investigation, witnesses pointed at Yap as supplying the logistical needs of the NPA command allegedly responsible for the deaths of five supporters of former Escalante mayor Santiago Barcelona Jr.
The witnesses said Yap exercised influence over the alleged NPA command.
“This Office is inclined to believe that that motive for these crimes were political,” Morales said. JE
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