By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After letters were earlier sent to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Negros Occidental from the families of those victimized by New People’s Army (NPA) atrocity in Moises Padilla and nearby areas, the law enforcement agency vowed to resolve the cases.
The victims’ next of kin, along with their legal representation, met with CIDG-Negros Occidental head, Police Lt. Colonel Luke Ventura, yesterday at Camp Alfredo Montelibano in Bacolod City. During their discussions, 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./DGB, WDJ