A barangay lupon, a committee member of the Lupon Tagapamayapa, or the barangay justice committee, was allegedly killed last Friday by members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) in Barangay Laga-an, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the fatality as 42-year-old Bolbet Leyte, a resident of the said barangay.

Calatrava municipal police deputy, Police Senior Inspector Roger Pama, said PNP-SAF were conducting combat operations in the area when they spotted Leyte with a flashlight.

Troopers introduced themselves to Leyte as police. In response, the victim allegedly pulled out a .38 caliber revolver and tried to open fire.

The firearm, however, jammed as PNP-SAF members opened fire, killing Leyte on the spot.

Following the incident, Leyte’s family accused the PNP-SAF of “overkill” and denied the victim pulled out a firearm. They claimed the victim was heating up water when he noticed the troopers, and when the barangay official shone a flashlight at them, they opened fire.

Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, meanwhile, said PNP-SAF acted in self-defense and the incident was not an “overkill.”

Castil added, Leyte is a suspected member of a local gun-for-hire group in the area.

He pointed out, there were sightings of New People’s Army (NPA) operatives in the area prior to the incident and patrolling PNP-SAF troopers were on heightened alert.

The NOPPO director said they are open to an investigation to the incident./DGB, WDJ