Probe of Zambo Sur, Quezon massacres ordered

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday ordered an investigation into two separate massacres in Zamboanga del Sur and Quezon province last Thursday.

“We should not allow these armed and dangerous murderers to roam around and go scot-free,” Robredo said.   

Robredo ordered Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, Region 9 police director, and Senior Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Quezon police director, to work for the arrest and prosecution of the suspects in the twin killings.

He instructed Estilles to hunt down the 10 armed men led by a certain Amie Andi, leader of a lawless group operating in Zamboanga del Sur, who were tagged in the massacre of six people, three of them minors, in Sitio Bihing, Barangay Tininghalang in Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur Thursday night.

Estilles said the victims earned the ire of Andi’s group for cooperating with police and Army personnel during an operation in their village two weeks ago that led to the killing of Andi’s brother Samang.

In Quezon, four people, including two children aged six and 11, were found dead with multiple hack wounds inside their home in Lopez town on Thursday.

Velasquez said the victims were presumably asleep when they were attacked, as there were no signs of struggle in the house.

Police said business rivalry could have motivated the killing. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Roel Pareño, Michelle Zoleta, Arnell Ozaeta, Jaime Laude