CHR probes killing of NPA rebels in Negros

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will look into the killing of six New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, who according to the military died in an encounter in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on Thursday last week.

Vincent Parra of the CHR office in Negros Occidental cited reports that the supposed clash was an ambush.

Parra said the CHR received reports that one of the fatalities was a pregnant woman.

In a radio interview, the family of Rubin Gaitan, driver of the tricycle used by the fatalities, said he is not a communist rebel.

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) welcomed the CHR probe as it maintained that the six rebels were killed in a legitimate encounter.

”The result of the investigation will eventually clear and vindicate us from allegations of human rights violations,” Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, said.

The military said the fatalities were members of the NPA’s South West Front of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor and behind recent atrocities in southern Negros.

Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the rebels fired at soldiers, who responded to reports on the presence of armed men in the area.

Meanwhile, in Samar, the military said an NPA rebel was killed in an encounter in San Jose de Buan on Monday.

Capt. Gerald Panganiban, civil military operations officer of the 802nd Brigade of the 8th ID, said a high-powered firearm and bullets were recovered at the scene.

Panganiban said the firefight was the third in a series of running gunbattles of NPA rebels and soldiers of the 63rd Infantry Battalion.