BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Law enforcers were urged to carry out a speedy investigation into the killing of the city health officer of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental and her husband.
“Inaasahan po natin na magiging mabilis ‘yung imbestigasyon nang mahuli na po, malitis at maparusahan ang pumatay kay doktora,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan was also the chief of Guihulngan’s local inter-agency task force (IATF). She and husband Edwin were ambushed on Tuesday.
Gov. Roel Degamo earlier ordered the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO) to hasten its probe.
Bimbo Miraflor, public information officer of the Negros Oriental provincial government, said the operation of the local IATF against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was affected.
On Thursday, Philippine National Police chief General Debold Sinas ordered the NORPPO to create a task group that would investigate the murder of the couple.
“Sinabi ko mag-create ng SITG [Special Investigation Task Group] para tutukan ito at alamin ang puno’t dulo ng insidenteng ito,” Sinas said told CNN Philippines.
Sinas further said: “Iniintay ko pa po ang feedback nila [Negros police], kasi based sa initial report nila, ongoing ang investigation at inaalam nila ang dahilan kung bakit binaril ang mag-asawa.”
Based on information from the Guihulngan City Police Station, the couple were on their way home on a motorcycle when two gunmen – also on a motorcycle – opened fire at them.
The Sancelans were instantly killed. They sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Diocese of San Carlos’ Bishop Gerardo Alminaza condemned the ambush. He asked for prayers for the victims and their families, and for those responsible to be held accountable.
Rights group Karapatan-Negros, meanwhile, released a statement accusing the anti-communist vigilante group Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok Komunista (Kagubak) as the one responsible for the murders.
Karapatan-Negros claimed the doctor was recently “red-tagged” and mistakenly identified as Ka JB Regalado, the spokesperson of the New People’s Army’s Leonardo Panaligan Command based in Central Negros./PN
