By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Tubungan Police Station has shifted its focus on allegations that the New People’s Army (NPA) was behind the killing of a village councilman and a youth leader in Tubungan, Iloilo.
Police Lieutenant Jose Romel Samson, Tubungan police chief, based the shift on the Philippine Army’s allegation that one of the victims, Barangay Kagawad Harold Tablazon, was an NPA member.
“If it’s true that he used to be a member of the NPA since 2015 and he recently surrendered to authorities a month ago, it’s very possible that his former comrades ran after him,” Samson said.
Samson said Tablazon may have been killed to prevent him from “ratting” on the rebels.
As to the other victim, Glen Bunda, “he’s collateral damage. The target appeared to be Tablazon,” Samson added.
But as of now, Samson said they have no witness to the crime.
“We have not stopped going back to the crime scene and the immediate vicinity. But none claimed to have seen the murder,” he said.
On Monday, Major Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said that Tablazon surrendered on May 12, 2020 to Tubungan Mayor Roquito Tacsagon.
Tablazon’s papers were being processed so he can avail of the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Pancito also laughed off claims of the NPA that government forces were behind the killing of Tablazon and Bunda.
Meanwhile, the NPA has denied that Tablazon used to be a member of the rebel group.
Tablazon, 33, of Ago village, Tubungan and SK chairman Glen Bunda, 22, of Barangay Tagpuan, were driving home around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, when they were waylaid at Sitio Passi, Barangay Mayang.
Police recovered from the scene 32 empty shells of calibers .45 and .9mm ammunition.
IPPO FORMS SITG
In a press statement, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) said that a focused investigation is being conducted to identify the suspect/s and establish the motive of the shooting incident.
It has acknowledged that witnesses are pivotal in the investigation. However, no one has come forward to give accounts on the shooting of Tablazon and Bunda.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, Iloilo police chief, said his office received information that the NPA released a statement blaming the PNP for the killing.
“We vehemently deny any involvement of PNP personnel in the incident,” he said.
Lucas said, though, that they are not surprised that the NPA would implicate the PNP in the incident since Tablazon was rumored as an active sympathizer of the group.
“It is the common practice of the NPA terrorist group to accuse the PNP and AFP every time one of their members or sympathizers is killed,” Lucas said.
Despite this accusation, he assured that the IPPO would remain focused on the investigation and ensure impartiality to give justice to the victims and their families.
“We formed a special investigation task group to probe who is behind the killing of these elected officials,” Lucas said.
The IPPO chief will act as the SITG Commander.
He will be assisted by Lieutenant Colonel Arjun Luig of Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit; Lt. Col. Dennis Gabihan, Provincial Legal Officer; Major Gervinson Moyo, Chief of the Provincial Intelligence Unit; Lt. Col. Hilarion Roga of the Regional Crime Laboratory Office; and Lt. Col. Remie Alavaren, Chief of Provincial Investigation and Detection Unit.
The SITG will also be composed of Samson; Major Marius Amar of Regional Investigation Unit; Staff Sergeant Hermani Paras Jr, Investigator-on-Case; and Master Sergeant Francisco Lindero Jr, the IPPO spokesperson.
