Hontiveros calls for probe into anti-NPA group
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which is chaired by Senator Ronald dela Rosa, held a public hearing yesterday on the series of murders and violence recently recorded in Negros. The hearing was organized after Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a senate resolution seeking an investigation.
During the hearing, the Philippine National Police (PNP) provided an update on their probe into the spate of violence that occurred in Negros Oriental from July 18 to July 28, which resulted in 21 deaths.
They noted, another four were recorded this month.
The PNP also noted, 17 of those killed were civilians while four were police officers.
Aside from the PNP report, Hontiveros also released a supposed “hitlist” made by a group called the Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok Kumunista (Kagubak), which supposedly opposes the New People’s Army (NPA) and communist ideology.
“We have a so-called ‘hitlist’ circulating and attributed to Kagubak,” the senator pointed out.
She pointed out, the list needs to be seriously looked into as one of those listed was Atty. Anthony Trinidad, who was killed by riding-in-tandem suspects in Guihulngan City last month.
It was also confirmed that five of the 15 people listed are already dead.
However, Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) director, Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, who was also present at the hearing, concluded the supposed list was election related.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros said she believes human rights are “an obligation not just of the state, but also non-state actors.”
“If the police are at fault then they have to be held liable,” she affirmed.
Following the hearing, dela Rosa called the violence and atrocities committed in the region “unfathomable and unacceptable” and said he cannot comprehend why the fourth largest island in the country has become a battlefield.
Dela Rosa added, the Senate wants to ensure that justice will be served and the perpetrators will be punished./DGB, WDJ