Kin of NPA victims in Moises Padilla seek assistance from DILG

THE family of the victims slain by New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents in Moises Padilla are asking assistance to Secretary Eduardo Año.

In a letter addressed to Año, the families of the NPA victims are requesting an investigation against two top level officials of Moises Padilla for alleged links to the NPA and the illegal drug trade in the town.

They insisted that the killings were ordered upon by the said town officials. They have also expressed worry that the case will be forgotten as they pointed out it is difficult to arrest an NPA member.

They further stated the rebels are also threatening to kill even up to the family members of the victims and they are hoping the government’s action will end the cycle of violence.

The families also stated the reason why they are asking for his assistance was because the DILG had recently stripped around 189 local government officials of their supervisory powers to the local police for allegedly supporting the rebels or having ties to illegal drugs.

Earlier, the victims’ next of kin, along with their legal representation, met with

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-negros Occidental head, Police Lt. Colonel Luke Ventura at Camp Alfredo Montelibano in Bacolod City.

During the meeting, the family members said they wanted to know who gave the order for the killings.

The wife of slain Moises Padilla Municipal Councilor Jolomar Hilario believes his murder was “politically motivated” and believes a “local politician” paid the insurgent group to assassinate her husband.

The murdered town official was aligned with former Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña.

According to the CIDG official, charges have already been filed against several suspects and they are currently awaiting testimony from additional witnesses. However, he pointed out, they have yet to receive the official case from the Moises Padilla Police Station.

Ventura explained, additional statements from witnesses can be added as a supplemental affidavit to other affidavits that have already been filed.

In a previous letter, the families also appealed for authorities to look into the sworn affidavits by Robert Sualog and Jully Opiar filed against Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-yulo and Vice Mayor Adrian Villaflor despite the court earlier dismissing murder charges against the two town officials./tde