Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) condemned the 62nd IB soldiers for the brutal execution Rolito Tanillo in Barangay Tala-on, La Libertad, Negros Oriental on February 10, at 7 pm. According to the group, the perpetrators of the crime should be held accountable for violating international humanitarian law.

Soldiers reportedly abducted him from his house, took him to another place and then killed him in a staged encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA). To fabricate the encounter, soldiers fired indiscriminately near the community, terrorizing the villagers.

“Reiterating the family’s call for investigation and accountability, we call on the Commission on Human Rights to lead the investigations, conduct an autopsy, and hold those involved in the killing accountable,” according to HRAN.

According to the group, even before the incident, state forces had repeatedly harassed Tanillo and his family. “This gruesome killing by the Philippine Army belies the sugar-coated statements of brigade and battalion officials [on Negros island] that they respect and uphold human rights and international humanitarian law,” HRAN added.

Meanwhile, the NPA-Central Negros (Leonardo Panaligan Command) called the 62nd IB’s killing of Tanillo a cowardly retaliatory attack on defenseless civilians. The killing occurred after the people’s army’s punitive action against the destructive construction of the Limkaichong family, a political dynasty in La Libertad, in Barangay Aya on February 8.

“It is no secret to the people that these despotic politicians pay the mercenary Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in exchange for their service,” NPA-Central Negros spokesperson Ka JB Regalado said.

Apart from the killing, the soldiers also perpetrated the arrest of civilians on January 29 and 31. In Barangay Linantuyan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, 70-year-old Naring Remasog was arrested on unclear grounds. Until now, the family is unaware of his location and condition.

In Barangay Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, Bobet Carillo was arrested on January 29. Soldiers took him to Barangay Kansalungon, Isabela while forcing his wife and child to dig under their house for weapons Carillo allegedly hid there. Furthermore, Carillo was forced to guide combat operations in adjacent towns near Binalbagan.