Soldiers of the 15th IB opened fire on civilian driver Gary Jorpo on the night of March 6 in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. Jorpo sustained gunshot wounds to his legs.

Witnesses said the soldiers flagged down Jorpo while he was passing through the center of the barangay, but he did not stop out of fear of the soldiers. The troops then shot him on the spot, assuming he was a New People’s Army (NPA) member.

The soldiers took no accountability for their crime against Jorpo. The incident terrorized not only the victim but also his community. Their anxiety was further heightened by the continuing combat operations of the 15th IB in the barangays of Tampalon, Tapi, and Salong in the city.