Robredo orders police to solve Negros massacre

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo on Monday ordered Western Visayas police to work for the immediate arrest of a former village captain who shot and killed four village officials in Negros Occidental on Sunday. Robredo ordered Negros Occidental police chief Senior Superintendent Allan Guisihan to arrest Noel Ayalin, who barged into a barangay council meeting and shot all the officials of Barangay Kapitan Ramon in Silay City. "The department highly condemns the brutal killing of the Kapitan Ramon barangay officials and will ensure that the lone suspect will be put behind bars," Robredo said in a news release posted on the government portal. "The police should immediately apprehend Ayalin and file appropriate criminal charges against him," he added. Robredo also directed the police to ensure the protection of the victims' families and take necessary measures to prevent retaliatory attacks. Among those killed were 16-year-old Sangguniang Kabataan chair Imee Occeña, and barangay councilors Luzviminda Cotamen, Freddie Juño and Pedrito Orocio. Wounded were Barangay Capt. Ramon Celebre and Councilors Salvacion Corugda and Lenny Leorca. The suspect escaped aboard a motorcycle after the shooting. Investigation showed Ayalin went amuck after the village asked him to return the government vehicle previously assigned to him and liquidate some P1.2 million in barangay funds. Meanwhile, Robredo said the incident should prompt local officials to exercise extra caution in the performance of their functions, especially in fighting graft. "While we urge our local officials to be firm and resolute in the campaign against graft and corruption, they should also be cautious in dealing with the issue," he said. - KBK, GMA News