The Commission on Elections is looking into areas of concern in Negros Oriental due to intense political rivalry in the gubernatorial and congressional seats for next year’s election.
Provincial Elections officer Eddie Aba said they are closely coordinating with the Philippine National Police in verifying and validating reports of possible areas of concern, particularly in the southern and northern parts of the province.
This developed as kagawad Jorlan Baylon, a witness in an ambush slay in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, was killed by unidentified armed men at around 7 p.m. Sunday while on his way home from a flea market in a nearby barangay.
Baylon’s father, Lydio, then the barangay captain of Aya, and seven other civilians, were ambushed and killed at the height of the elections in 2007.
La Libertad chief of police, Inspector Michael Rubio, said the victim came from the “tabo” or flea market in Barangay Cansumandig when he was waylaid by five men armed with high powered firearms while on board his motorcycle, not far from his residence.
Since it was dark due to a power outage, witnesses could only see lights coming from flashlights at the crime scene, as if the suspects made sure he was dead.
Recovered from the crime scene were three spent empty shells of an M-14 riffle, live ammo for a 12-gauge shot gun and spent shells for a .45 caliber pistol.
Baylon was among those who survived the attack in 2007 while on board a truck of La Libertad town, and who testified and identified the culprits in court, that resulted to the arrest of Fernando “Boy” Dorimon, considered as the most-wanted in Region 7, and Sandalo Mongolore alias Randy, among others.
The three others, who were charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder for the ambuscade included Wilfredo Arellano, Tikyo Manait, and William Paunilian and several John Does.
Rubio said the police is looking into the possibility that the ambush-slaying of the younger Baylon has something to do with the 2007 incident, even as Baylon was also active in the anti-insurgency campaign of the Philippine Army, being a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit.
It was during that year when then La Libertad Mayor Jocelyn Limkaichong won as representative of the first district against Olive Paras, wife of then last termer solon Jacinto Paras.
Limkaichong has announced she will run in the same congressional district seat in 2016, after losing the gubernatorial race in 2013 to Gov. Roel Degamo.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Paulito Idul, commander of the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, said he believes there are two angles behind the killing of Baylon, and most likely perpetrated by the New People’s Army.
First, the man was said to be closely associated with Vice Mayor Em-em Limkaichong of La Libertad, and second, he was an active CAFGU member.
Idul said the NPA has reduced its activities to engaging in common crimes, instead of fighting for their ideology, and are targeting civilians and those who may be posing a threat to the NPA organization.
The area where Jorlan Baylon was killed is at the boundary of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, and a mobility point for the insurgents crossing from Negros Oriental or vice versa, Idul added. (PNA)
