By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) recorded 45 extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in Negros Occidental last year.

Vincent Parra, CHR-Negros Occidental head, said most EJKs were perpetrated and claimed by insurgents of the New People’s Army (NPA), while others were drug-related deaths by unidentified suspects.

The number of murder cases in Negros Occidental has dropped to 45, from 54 cases recorded in 2022.

However, Parra noted that there was an increase in deaths from alleged encounters between government forces and suspected NPA last year with 12, from three recorded in 2022.

Human rights cases are also down with 71 recorded in 2023, lower than 81 cases in 2022.

Parra has refused to reveal the sector with the highest number of alleged human rights violations.

They have logged several cases of frustrated murder, enforced disappearance, divestment of property, arbitrary detention, and internal displacement last year.

Death squad? 

Meanwhile, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) assured residents that there are no death squads operating in the city.

This comes after a series of shooting incidents took place in the city for the past few days.

BCPO spokesperson, Lt. Colonel Ronnie Brillo assured the public that they are not neglecting their duties, and they are doing everything they can to stop the killings in the city.

He added that the recent shooting incidents in Barangay Alijis, Villamonte and Sum-ag are not connected.

Brillo said the suspects in the shooting incidents are also not part of any groups.

Appropriate criminal charges have already been filed against the suspects in the recent shooting incident in Barangay Tangub, as the victim identified the perpetrators.

Brillo said the incident in Barangay Alijis was due to revenge and personal grudges.

The BCPO also has a person of interest in the incident in Barangay Villamonte./DGB, WDJ