By JEN BAYLON
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Occidental will investigate the murder of eight individuals by alleged New People’s Army (NPA) members over speculations that they were military agents.
“This could be a violation of the right to life allegedly committed by non-state actors,” CHR-Negros Occidental head Vincent Parra said.
Parra said part of their mandate is to conduct a motu proprio investigation into those who commit human rights violations.
“This is to ensure that the families of the victims of these killings are given justice,” he said.
Parra said the CHR assures that “the state is doing its obligation to file necessary charges against the suspects in the court.”
Eight individuals, allegedly tagged by the NPA as “military agents” or spies, were killed from April to early May of this year in the province.
Earlier, the NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command-Central Negros Guerrilla Front, through its spokesperson Ka JB Regalado, claimed that the individuals spied for the Philippine Army’s 62nd and 94th Infantry Battalions, based in Negros Occidental’s Isabela and Himamaylan City, respectively.
Regalado said they took responsibility for the deaths of the civilians.
Among those killed were:
* Danny Boy Bartolome of Sitio Paho in La Castellana town’s Barangay Camandag on April 11
* Barangay tanod Alexander Alquizar of Calatrava town’s Barangay Proper Lagaan on April 20
* Myrna Bilando of Sitio Duga-anon in Kabankalan City’s Barangay Oringao on April 21
* Jun Habagat of Sitio Cagay in Sipalay City’s Barangay Camindangan on April 24
* Albert “Tongkai” Golez of Sitio Cuyawyaw in Moises Padilla town’s Barangay Inolingan on April 24
* Ritoy Pedro of Sitio Kamanggahan in Binalbagan town’s Barangay Amontay on April 28
* Barangay tanod Donie Baculi of Sitio Bactolon in Sipalay City’s Barangay Camindangan on May 3
However, Regalado denied any involvement in the killing of village councilor Reynaldo “Jimmy” Jacolbe of La Castellana’s Barangay Puso on May 1.
Condemned
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has condemned the killings following the NPA’s statement, and ordered a separate investigation into the murder.
NOCPPO chief Colonel Rainerio de Chavez said they will immediately file appropriate charges against the perpetrators, once they have identified them.
“We will not rest until we find out who are behind the killings, and bring justice to the death of their loved ones,” De Chavez said.
No-nonsense probe
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) called on the CHR to conduct a no-nonsense investigation in relation to the killings.
“They [NPA] are violators of human rights, and they’re terrorists. This should be investigated by human rights groups and advocates,” 3ID public affairs officer Lieutenant Colonel J-jay Javines said.
Javines said the NPA recently suffered major setbacks in Negros Occidental, as they struggled to be relevant.
“This is why they resort to killings of innocent civilians to make their presence felt in the communities and grip people in fear,” Javines said.
“The NPA is sending the subtle message: This should be done to anyone who cooperates or gives information to security forces,” he added. / With reports from Rappler / JB, WDJ