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CHR investigates killings in NegOr

By Mary Judaline Partlow

July 26, 2019, 7:24 pm

DUMAGUETE CITY -- The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Oriental is looking into several killings in the province, independent of the investigation being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other agencies.

Dr. Jess Cañete, special investigator and CHR-Negros Oriental chief, said Thursday afternoon the cases include the murders of the four police intelligence officers in Barangay Mabato, Ayungon -- Police Cpl. Relebert Beronio, Patrolman Raffy Callao, Pat. Roel Cabellon, and Pat. Marquino de Leon, all intelligence officers of the 704th Provincial Mobile Force Company; the gun-slay of lawyer Anthony Trinidad in Guihulngan; the death of Romeo Arbole Alipan, barangay captain of Buenavista, Guihulngan; and the deaths of Arthur Cordevilla Bayawa, school principal of Guihulngan Science High, and his younger sister, Ardale Cordevilla Bayawa, of the Department of Education Division of Guihulngan.

Cañete reiterated that even before the CHR’s Strategic Communications Division issued a memorandum to investigate the deaths of the four policemen, he had already begun a motu proprio investigation.

In the case of the four police officers who were allegedly captured, tortured, and killed by alleged members of the New People’s Army, the CHR provincial chief said there appeared to be violations of human rights, the International Humanitarian Law, and the Rule of Law.

On the other hand, he still had to get the affidavits and statements of the families of the other shooting victims.

He was scheduled to visit Guihulngan City Friday to talk to the families and perhaps some witnesses.

Dr. Cañete lamented the directive of the PNP not to provide the CHR with certain documents, such as copies of the post-mortem and autopsy reports, saying it would be a difficult journey to investigate these cases.

Nevertheless, he said he was unfazed by the directive as there were other means to extract information to help the CHR in its investigation.

He appealed to the families of the victims, as well as potential witnesses, to come forward and cooperate in the CHR investigation. (PNA)

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