Army assures cooperation in CHR probe

From the Visayan Daily Star (Oct 7, 2023): Army assures cooperation in CHR probe (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has assured its full support into the probe on death of six New People’s Army rebels in Brgy. Tabugon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, disclosed yesterday by Vincent Parra, officer in charge of the Commission on Human Rights sub regional office in Bacolod City.

Parra said they are requesting an after battle report of the 3rd Infantry Division, in connection with Kabankalan encounter on September 21.

He however expressed dismay on what he calls the uncooperative attitude of the police in Kabankalan regarding the encounter.

Parra yesterday said he was denied of a copy of the police blotter, which he tried to secure from the Kabankalan police, despite being public record.

They are not the subject of his investigation, the encounter is, he stressed.

He added that the Kabankalan police referred him to the Philippine Army during the CHR investigation into the incident.

Parra said he was able to get the identities of the slain rebels from a funeral parlor.

Of the six persons that died, Parra said their initial investigation showed that one of them, which he identified as Ruben Gaitan, turned out to be a resident of Brgy. Camansi, Kabankalan City.

He added that the parents and siblings of Gaitan maintained that Ruben, an employee of the SONEDCO Sugar Central and working as a part time tricycle driver, is not affiliated with the NPA, contrary to claims of the military.

Parra raised the possibility that Gaitan may have been hired by the persons killed in the alleged gun battle.

Among the killed individuals, Parra said the names of [Bobby] Pedro and [Mario Fajardo] Mullon were identified by the NTF ELCAC (Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict) as among NPA personalities being urged to surrender.

Perhaps they were placed under surveillance prior to the incident, he added.*

https://visayandailystar.com/army-assures-cooperation-in-chr-probe/