BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Undersecretary Cirilito Sobejana of the Executive Department for Military Affairs, an office under the Office of the President, called on authorities to end the spate of killings and terror activities in Negros Oriental.
Sobejana said that the public perceived the killings as politically motivated and “everybody is calling for justice to take place,” Sobejana, who on March 4 met with Brig. Gen. Leonardo Pena, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander and PCol. Germano Mallari, provincial police director of Negros Oriental, at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.
This becomes a challenge to the PNP, AFP, COMELEC, as well as other stakeholders to address the issue head on, with no let up to effectively deal with it, he added.
Sobejana, who used to be the AFP chief of staff, also met with Gov. Roel Degamo. Rep. Arnie Teves, Guihulngan City Mayor Guido Reyes, Bayawan City Mayor Henry Teves, to highlight the guidance of President Rodrigo Duterte for the security forces to provide a democratic space and let democracy work, in ensuring that the public will be able to exercise their right to vote on the May 9 elections.
The series of shooting incidents and liquidation activities of civilians suspected as military informants in Guihulngan City, Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental, Binalbagan and Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental, have been claimed by the New People’s Army.
Sobejana sought the commitment of support and cooperation of those government officials in ending the menace of killings and other terror acts taking place in Negros Oriental.
He also met with Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco to brief him on the results of his meeting with local officials, as well as the AFP and PNP.*
