By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) said they are ready to coordinate with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) for individuals that may go missing.

This comes after several unidentified bodies were recovered over the past few weeks.

NOCPPO spokesperson, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, said they have not recorded any missing individuals in the province.

Catalogo said the two missing individuals from La Castellana town — erroneously reported to have been abducted — were found alive and have returned home.

He added the BCPO is very much welcome to gather data from their office regarding missing individuals.

Police said the only problem they have with the recovery of the bodies was nobody would claim the remains.

One example was the recovery of three skeletal remains in Silay City in January of this year, but several individuals were unable to positively identify them.

The only option for the identification is through DNA testing, but the method is too expensive.

When asked if the recent recovery of dead bodies in the province and the severed body parts in Bacolod City were done by vigilantes, Catalogo said they have not monitored any armed groups in the province.

They did record some atrocities, but the NOCPPO spokesperson said the individuals behind the crime were already identified and appropriate criminal charges have been filed against them.

Among these instances were those in the northern part of Negros Occidental, which were later determined to have been committed by insurgents from the New People’s Army, with them even claiming responsibility for the killings.

“For now, waay kita sang may monitor sa Negros Occidental,” Catalogo said./DGB, WDJ