The Negros Occidental Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is calling for witnesses of the Bolbet Leyte shooting, allegedly committed by members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) in Barangay Laga-an, Calatrava earlier this month.

Local CHR head Romeo Baldevarona said they are currently looking into the shooting of the 42-year-old barangay lupon, a committee member of the local Lupon Tagapamayapa, or the barangay justice committee, who also worked as a sugarcane field overseer, questioning if the encounter was “overkill or a case of mistaken identity in the incident.”

“We need to have someone credible to tell us what really happened,” he explained.

Baldevarona said he visited Calatrava last week to conduct an initial investigation but was only able to secure a police report from the municipal police.

He has since also called on Leyte’s family to visit CHR, as they have yet to offer testimony with regard to the incident.

Leyte succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead on arrival at the Calatrava District Hospital by Dr. Ellen Lumanog, the police records showed.

According to Calatrava municipal police, PNP-SAF were conducting combat operations in the area when they heard a group of men talking near a nipa hut. While approaching the dwelling, the troopers saw a man carrying a flashlight and a .38 caliber revolver exit the hut and began shooting at them.

The firearm, however, jammed as PNP-SAF members opened fire in response and struck Leyte.

According to Police Senior Inspector Eduardo Lambayong of the Calatrava Municipal Police Station, unidentified persons were reportedly seen fleeing the incident.

A loaded revolver was recovered from the scene./DGB, WDJ