By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The ongoing investigation over the torching of three backhoes on Tuesday has been handed over to the E.B. Magalona police.
Police Lt. Colonel Roberto Petate, Silay City police chief, said they handed the investigation to E.B. Magalona police because the area where the incident occurred was already part of Barangay Consing, E.B. Magalona.
Petate explained that initially they were the ones who responded to the area first after receiving the report that the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked the area as they thought the area was still part of Barangay E. Lopez, and they are the nearest units available.
He further added they were accompanied by members of the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company, and when they arrived the backhoes were already completely gutted.
Petate also said they have strong evidence that the NPA were involved in the arson, as there were clear indications of their presence at the time such as the recovery of placards and an NPA flag.
However, he added it will be up to the E.B. Magalona police to confirm if it was the NPA who really made the attack, or other criminal elements.
Earlier on Tuesday, Randy Bylon, a local resident in the area called police at around 5:00 a.m. when he saw three backhoes on fire at Hacienda Vista Alegre.
Among the heavy equipment included a Caterpillar 520 backhoe worth P7.2 million; a Liugong backhoe worth P4.2 million and owned by a certain Ryan Villan; and another Liugong backhoe worth P5.2 million owned by Lantad barangay captain Arnie Benedicto.
Villan also reported to the police that the insurgents placed an NPA checkpoint on the road connecting to the hacienda.
Meanwhile, in what police believe may be connected to the arson attack, authorities have recovered the remains of a barangay tanod at Barangay Consing in the said town late Tuesday night.
Police identified the fatality as Elmer Ortencio, a resident of Hacienda Margarita in the said barangay.
Based on information released by E.B. Magalona police, Ortencio was believed to have been abducted by armed individuals Tuesday afternoon.
Ortencio’s remains were later recovered at a bamboo plantation in the area around 11:00 p.m.
Police are still investigating the incident, although reports suggest that Ortencio may have witnessed the arson attack last Monday./DGB, WDJ