From Rappler (Sep 29, 2020): Farmer allegedly beheaded in Negros Occidental (By MARCHEL P. ESPINA)
But the Philippine Army debunks the claim that the body recovered was decapitated
A farmer was allegedly beheaded near the site where a recent encounter happened between government forces and rebels at Barangay Tan-awan in Kabankalan City in this province.
Clarizza Singson, secretary-general of Karapatan Negros Island, said that Bernardo Guillen, 50, went missing on September 17, and that they searched for him.
Singson said they found Guillen's decapitated body 9 days days later, on September 26.
She said that Guillen was reportedly taken by the Philippine Army on September 17 following the encounter, according to his family members.
Guillen was the father of Bernard Guillen, one of the “Mabinay 6” who was arrested in 2016 and was presently detained in Dumaguete City.
“We call on the Commission on Human Rights for an independent and thorough investigation in the said killing. We also challenge the local government to address this senseless killing and gross human rights violations happening in the communities of farmers victimized by intensified military operations,” Singson said.
'Karapatan statement is a lie'
Meanwhile, Captain Cenon Pancito, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Capiz province, said that the statement of Karapatan was a lie and “fake news.”
Pancito said there was an encounter in the area on September 17, but no cadaver was recovered, only guns and other belongings.
He said on September 26, they received a report that a body was found at the side of the ravine.
The military went to the area with the police and representatives of the barangay to the recover the body, he said.
He said that the body was not beheaded when it was recovered by the authorities, but it was already in an advanced state of decomposition.
The body was buried immediately and was not autopsied as requested by Guillen's family.
The military spokesman also clarified that Guillen was not forcibly taken inside his house, as claimed by Karapatan.
He said that Guillen's wife claimed that her husband went out to check the area after hearing the gunfire.
Pancito said they could not establish if Guillen was caught in the crossfire or if he could have fallen into the ravine.
He added they have yet to see the report of the police.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Negros said in a statement that during the firefight, Guillen was tending their farm lot and immediately gathered his family to seek refuge.
“Upon reaching their house, members of the Philippine Army were already at their house telling them to evacuate. While on their way to the evacuation site, he went back to his house despite the opposition of his wife. His wife and children made it to the evacuation site but Bernardo Guillen never came back to them,” the group said.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/farmer-allegedly-beheaded-in-negros-occidental
Clarizza Singson, secretary-general of Karapatan Negros Island, said that Bernardo Guillen, 50, went missing on September 17, and that they searched for him.
Singson said they found Guillen's decapitated body 9 days days later, on September 26.
She said that Guillen was reportedly taken by the Philippine Army on September 17 following the encounter, according to his family members.
Guillen was the father of Bernard Guillen, one of the “Mabinay 6” who was arrested in 2016 and was presently detained in Dumaguete City.
“We call on the Commission on Human Rights for an independent and thorough investigation in the said killing. We also challenge the local government to address this senseless killing and gross human rights violations happening in the communities of farmers victimized by intensified military operations,” Singson said.
'Karapatan statement is a lie'
Meanwhile, Captain Cenon Pancito, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Capiz province, said that the statement of Karapatan was a lie and “fake news.”
Pancito said there was an encounter in the area on September 17, but no cadaver was recovered, only guns and other belongings.
He said on September 26, they received a report that a body was found at the side of the ravine.
The military went to the area with the police and representatives of the barangay to the recover the body, he said.
He said that the body was not beheaded when it was recovered by the authorities, but it was already in an advanced state of decomposition.
The body was buried immediately and was not autopsied as requested by Guillen's family.
The military spokesman also clarified that Guillen was not forcibly taken inside his house, as claimed by Karapatan.
He said that Guillen's wife claimed that her husband went out to check the area after hearing the gunfire.
Pancito said they could not establish if Guillen was caught in the crossfire or if he could have fallen into the ravine.
He added they have yet to see the report of the police.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Negros said in a statement that during the firefight, Guillen was tending their farm lot and immediately gathered his family to seek refuge.
“Upon reaching their house, members of the Philippine Army were already at their house telling them to evacuate. While on their way to the evacuation site, he went back to his house despite the opposition of his wife. His wife and children made it to the evacuation site but Bernardo Guillen never came back to them,” the group said.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/farmer-allegedly-beheaded-in-negros-occidental
KARAPATAN is a Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) human rights front organization. The allegations of beheading are false. See the Kalinaw News article entitled "Army official denounces killing of former rebel by NPA in Samar" for photo of deceased Bernardo Guillen. He was not beheaded but was murdered by suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA), the military wing of the CPP. An NPA hit team was believed to have killed him as an object lesson to those who attempt to surrender or leave the underground insurgent movement.
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