The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemns the brazen violation of the right to life committed by the New People’s Army in Negros Island against farmer, Danilo Bedaja, 63, and carpenter, Armando Babor, 33, in separate incidents.
Members of the Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) Central Negros Guerilla Front claimed responsibility for the killing of farmer Bedaja in Barangay Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Sunday, 9 April 2023.
Based on reports, the slain farmer left their house and went to his farm. Gunshots were heard from a distance by his son. Bedaja was eventually seen lying on the ground, who ultimately succumbed to multiple gunshot injuries.
LPC, through its spokesperson, alleged that the slain farmer engaged in theft and land-grabbing activities and owned an illegal firearm that he allegedly used to intimidated other residents. The rebel group said that the farmer has been asked to leave the place in 2016 but returned a few years later to allegedly continue his activities against the people.
In Negros Oriental, LPC-NPA also claimed the killing of carpenter Babor on Tuesday, 11 April 2023, in Barangay Mani-ak, Guihulngan City. According to police investigation, unidentified armed persons shot Babor while having breakfast at home.
The said rebel group accuse Babor of being an intelligence asset of the military who was said to guide military troops during operations in upland villages of the city. LPC-NPA assert that because of this Babor was a legitimate military target of the NPA. The rebel group also claim warning the victim in 2021 and 2022, but the Babor persisted.
CHR stresses that no ideology or circumstance can justify violations of human rights, moreso arbitrary deprivation of a person’s life. In the cases of the slain farmer and carpenter, the rule of law dictates that persons who allegedly committed any crime must be afforded due process and, if guilty, be punished also according to law. And so a crime committed by a person or any group, even guised in pursuit of a good, must be similarly pursued in the interest of justice and universal respect for human rights.
To this end, CHR Region VI and Region VII are conducting an independent investigation of the said cases. We equally urge the local authorities to pursue the perpetrators of this latest killing in keeping with the rule of law and the defense of its citizens’ human rights.
In the same vein, the Commission urges the strengthening of multi-sectoral initiatives that address the root causes of conflict and insurgency in the region. Promoting sustainable development must go hand in hand with peace and security efforts to nurture a society where all people’s rights are enjoyed and protected. ###