By JEN BAYLON
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Bacolod City has initiated a motu proprio investigation into the recent encounter at Barangay Gatuslao in Negros Occidental’s Candoni town, where seven alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels died.
CHR-Bacolod head Vincent Parra said they are gathering relevant information regarding the identity of the alleged NPA rebels who were killed in the gun battle with government troops on November 21.
Parra said they engaged with local government units and residents in Barangay Gatuslao to collect testimonies and evidence about the clash.
CHR-Bacolod also plans to reach out to the families of the deceased individuals, including a fatality reported to be a resident of Kabankalan City’s Barangay Camansi.
Parra said their investigation aims to ensure accountability and transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding the encounter.
He added that the probe underscores CHR’s commitment to uphold human rights standards and address concerns related to extrajudicial killings and military operations.
It will also focus on understanding the context of the clash and the actions taken by military personnel.
Parra noted that military clearing operations are ongoing at the encounter site.
The agency is also calling on individuals who are still involved in armed conflict to surrender peacefully, emphasizing a desire for a non-violent resolution that allows for reintegration into society.
The 45-minute firefight in the early morning of November 21 resulted in the deaths of seven suspected NPA rebels.
The 302nd Infantry Brigade (302IBde) reported that the clash started when troops from the 47th and 15th Infantry Battalions (IB) responded to the reported presence of armed individuals in Sitio Cogon.
The military engaged around 10 suspected members of the NPA’s Southwest Front of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor, 302IBde commander Brigadier General Joey Escanillas said.
They sustained gunshot wounds in various parts of their bodies that caused their deaths.
Of the seven fatalities, one was identified and claimed by relatives.
The remaining six, whose families did not come forward, were buried in Candoni’s Barangay Poblacion West on November 22.
Lt. Colonel J-jay Javines, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said the latest encounter meant that the NPA’s forces are still weak.
Lt. Magno Mapalad, 47IB commanding officer, said the latest encounter was “a significant blow to the dwindling remnants” of the NPA in Negros Occidental.
“The tragic fate of [their] comrades in this encounter serves as a stark reminder that the armed struggle only leads to suffering and death,” he said./JB, WDJ