ILOILO City – Western Visayas remains peaceful despite two alleged summary executions in Iloilo and the discovery of severed feet in Bacolod City, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO -6).
Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco, PRO-6 director, said the three incidents were “isolated cases”.
He ordered the police chiefs concerned to conduct a thorough investigation and coordinate with the victims’ families.
“We are on top of the situation. Region 6 is still safe and we assured the community of their safety,” he added.
The region’s top cop also ordered intelligence officers to strengthen their barangay intelligence network to get information on the whereabouts of lawless elements.
On March 23, Allen Sanchez, 58, of Barangay Sto. Niño, Arevalo district in this city, was found dead, with his hands bound by tape, in Barangay Linobayan, Tigbauan, Iloilo.
Three sachets of suspected shabu and one sachet of marijuana were found in his wallet. At the back of Sanchez’s shirt was the inscription, “Para sa bayan Toto Desilos Ungka BJMP Munti Drug Group.”
On March 26, alleged summary execution survivor Glen Paloma, 29, was found hogtied and with six gunshot wounds in a rice field in Barangay Calaboa, Leganes town.
Paloma served jail time in 2016 for illegal drugs but was able to secure a plea bargain in October last year.
Three days after, on March 29, a bag that contained a pair of dismembered feet was found at a gasoline station along C.L. Montelibano Street in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City.
As to who owned the feet, the police have no lead yet.
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has gotten in touch with the persons named in a list that accompanied the two severed feet.
Police Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, BCPO director, said at least four people were on the list, including a lawyer and two businessmen./PN
