Cops eye copy of slay probe findings

So it could dig deeper into the revived case, the Cebu Provincial Police Office wants to secure a copy of the findings of the investigation conducted by the Cardinal Vidal- Integrated Bar of the Philippines fact-finding team into the killing of the Anugot family and a neighbor in Balamban in the 1980s.

CCPO Director Carmelo Valmoria yesterday said they are hopeful that the findings of the fact-finding team years ago would provide them a lead to solve the massacre of the Anugot family and their neighbor Venancio Labajo.

The case was recently revived after the remains of the massacre victims were exhumed by police and military last Friday, 23 years after they were allegedly killed by members of the New People’s Army.

A joint team from the 78th IB and the Cebu Provincial Police Office were the ones who went to Sitio Mayana in Balamban to dig out the remains of the Anugot family. It was found out that they were strafed and stabbed in their sleep.

According to an informer, the Anugots, who were believed to be mass supporters of the NPA, were allegedly killed by the same group they were supporting for refusing to sell their pigs for the cause of the movement.

However, the National Democratic Front denied these claims and together with the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, alleged that it was the barangay officials, police and military that were responsible for the killing because of the family’s refusal to plant marijuana.

But Valmoria said these statements from the cause-oriented groups are expected since the leftists are allegedly “masters of deception.”

“While they talk on democracy but they are actually introducing communism,” Valmoria said.

Valmoria said that they would invite members of the cause-oriented groups in the future digging operations for transparency purposes. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO