By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Occidental will conduct an investigation into the encounter in Kabankalan City’s Barangay Tabugon on Thursday night, September 21.

CHR-NegOcc head, Vincent Parra said they will conduct an independent probe into the clash, after the wife of one of the slain individuals, Ruben Gaitan, claimed that he was not a member of the alleged New People’s Army (NPA) squad.

Six alleged members of NPA’s Sangay Yunit Propaganda Platoon 3 were killed in the encounter with the 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitio Lubi.

A post-mortem examination of the remains also revealed that one of the slain members was five months pregnant.

Parra said the claims of Gaitan’s wife and the report that one of the slain was pregnant were serious and will warrant an independent investigation.

He said the probe will be conducted next week.

CHR-NegOcc requested the Philippine Army to hold a meeting with the Kabankalan City Police Station as they served as the first responders after the encounter.

The commission still conducts separate investigations over recent incidents in Negros Occidental, especially the recovery of the remains of two alleged summary execution victims in Bago City on Friday, September 22.

On Thursday night, the 47IB was conducting a security operation in Barangay Tabugon when they encountered the alleged six-member NPA squad, who were riding Gaitan’s tricycle.

In a statement, Philippine Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, Brigadier General Joey Escanillas, said the squad opened fire at the Army first, which prompted the military to respond defensively.

The gun battle lasted for at least five to 10 minutes.

The fatalities were identified over the weekend.

These were Alejo “Peter/Bravo” de los Reyes, the alleged NPA squad leader; his wife Melissa “Diane” de la Peña; Marjon “Kenneth” Alvior, Squad 2 vice leader; Bobby “Recoy” Pedro, Squad 3 vice leader; and Mario “Reco/Goring” Fajardo Mullon, Squad 1 medic./DGB, WDJ