Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan, head of the city’s COVID-19 IATF, along with her husband Edwin Sancelan was shot dead by riding-in-tandem, Brgy. Poblacion, Guihulngan City just this evening.
Dr. Sancelan was number one in the hitlist by Kawsa Guihulngan Batok Kumunista (KAGUBAK), an armed anti-communist vigilante group linking her and 14 others to the CPP-NPA-NDF. The list, which circulated back in 2017, stated that she was the alias of “JB Regalado”, spokesperson of the Leonardo Panaligan Command of NPA Central Negros.
Human rights organizations and civil society groups around the country have decried the killings, with Karapatan Negros Island believing she is part of the liquidation operation of the government’s National Task Force to End Local Armed Communist Conflict, and that KAGUBAK is a paramilitary force in cahoots with the Philippine Army.
At least four others in the same list have been also extrajudicially killed in the last two years, including lawyer Anthony Trinidad in 2019, and former activist Heidie Malalay Flores who was shot in 2018.
Meanwhile, authorities reported that a 50-year old resident of the same city, Saeler “Israel” Alsong, was shot by riding in tandem on the same afternoon at nearby Brgy. Calamba.
Initial police reports state that Alsong was being followed by motor-riding suspects while driving his motorcycle going north, when the gunmen positioned beside him and fired several shots at Alsong’s body. The victim was brought to Guihulngan Hospital but declared dead on arrival.
15 slugs and used bullets from a caliber .45 pistol were recovered from the crime scene. Police stated they are still investigating the two shooting incidents.
Paghimutad 