Bacolod City – The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division welcomed the probe to be conducted by the Commission on Human Rights on a series of killings perpetrated and claimed by remnants of the New People’s Army in Negros Occidental.
We welcome any investigation that will shed light on these incidents and help bring justice for the victims and their families, Maj Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, said, as they will work closely with the CHR to ensure the investigation is thorough, impartial, and transparent.
The NPA, in separate statements they issued since April, has claimed responsibility for the deaths of nine civilians that they claimed to punish for alleged counter revolutionary activities.
“This could be a violation of the right to life allegedly committed by non-state actors,” Vicente Parra, head of the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Occidental, said.
Parra disclosed that they will conduct a motu proprio investigations into the series of killings, citing a provision in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which states that “everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.”
“By cooperating fully with the CHR’s probe, the military aims to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to accountability and respect for human rights,” Sison said.
With the support and cooperation of the 3ID and CHR, we ensure that justice is served, human rights are protected, and peace is restored in Negros Occidental, he added.
Through admission in separate statements they issued, the NPA has claimed the killings of Danny Boy Bartolome of Sitio Paho, Camandag, La Castellana town on April 11; Barangay tanod Alexander Alquizar of Proper Lagaan, Calatrava town on April 20; Myrna Bilando of Sitio Duga-anon, Barangay Oringao, Kabankalan City on April 21; Jun Habagat of Sitio Cagay, Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City on April 24; Albert “Tongkai” Golez of Sitio Cuyawyaw, Barangay Inolingan, Moises Padilla town on April 24; Ritoy Pedro of Sitio Kamanggahan, Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan on April 28; Barangay tanod Donie Baculi of Sitio Bactolon, Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City on May 3.
On May 9, the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command issued another statement claiming responsibility for the death of a 38-year-old resident in Sitio Naube, Brgy.Puso, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, who they claimed to have been involved in a sexual related crime.
According to the La Castellana police, the victim is a person with a disability who was going down from his house on Thursday night when he was shot. He succumbed to multiple gunshot injuries in the head. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star)