Central Command justifies the legitimacy of Police Operations in Negros Oriental

CAMP LAPULAPU, Cebu City – Central Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines justifies the simultaneous implementation of 36 Search Warrants (SWs) in the different cities and municipalities of the First District of Negros Oriental which resulted to the following accomplishments: the arrest of 16 persons subjects of the SWs, and the recovery of 53 assorted firearms & explosives, broken down as follows: 8-Rifle Grenades, 2-Grenades, 9-Cal .45 pistols, 25-Cal .38 pistols, 1-Cal .357 pistol, 4-Shotguns, and 4-Homemade Rifle/pistols.

Meanwhile, 6 suspects were able to elude arrest. “The simultaneous Joint PNP and AFP operations in Negros Oriental that resulted in the killing of fourteen (14) people were “legitimate.”

The search warrants were issued by competent courts in Negros Oriental and Cebu City.” Said LtGen Noel S Clement, Commander, CENTCOM, AFP. “The operations in Negros Oriental were part of the anti-criminality operations that focused on illegal gambling, illegal drugs, as well as on the campaign against loose firearms.

The operations were implemented as part of the security standards’ efforts to maintain peace and order especially that the elections are nearing. LtGen Clement added.

We appeal to the sense of fairness of the CHR to exercise the integrity of their mandate of conducting an investigation, that such should be based always on solid evidence and objective factual bases, rather than on pre-judgment and pre-conclusion that can only muddle the issues rather than attaining truth and objectivity./PR