Samar Rep seeks PNP chief’s help with private armed groups

SAMAR, Philippines – Samar 1st District Representative Edgar Mary S. Sarmiento has asked to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa to address the killings allegedly committed by private armed groups (PAGs) in his province.

In a letter to Dela Rosa dated September 6, Sarmiento requested the PNP chief to conduct an impartial investigation into the abuses, and that paramilitary groups in Samar be arrested, disarmed, and disbanded.

“I am passing along this cry for help I received from my fellow Calbayognon and Samarnon. This is about persecution of people from the 1st district of Samar. They are being persecuted for just being a Liberal (party member),” Sarmiento said.

“It is alarming and disturbing that the same continue to cast fear to the people of the 1st district of Samar and the only way for it to change is to enforce the full force of the law. Apprehension/neutralization is the key to all known PAGs,” he added.

Records from the police showed that in the last week, 6 barangay officials and leaders of Calbayog City – all from the Liberal Party – were shot by unidentified members of PAGs in Samar.

Barangay Chairman Darwin Z. Tan of Barangay Payahan was the latest victim. Tan was murdered on the September 9 as he was was about to send his son to school.

Sarmiento said the series of killings in Samar usually occurs only during election period. There have been killings almost daily reportedly relative to the barangay elections scheduled in October/

He also appealed to Dela Rosa that attention and immediate action be given to the unresolved killings in nearby towns such as Sta Margarita, San Jorge, Gandara, and Matuginao.

Sarmiento also cited the year-old case of multiple murder and frustrated murder filed against suspects Arnold Belleza, Boboy Diaz Tomnob, Gilboy Diaz Tomnob, Eday Diaz Tomnob, Imboy Tomnob, Roy Managaysay, Jimmy Managaysay, Richard Hordacas, and Edar Balintino before the City Prosecutor’s Office in Calbayog City on September 18, 2015.

In his letter to Dela Rosa, Sarmiento wondered why the local police could not arrest the suspects even after they had been identified. These suspects had also been identified by eye witnesses. – Rappler.com