Farmer Jigger Barotolo was killed by four bullet wounds on May 30 in the afternoon in Sityo Sangay, Barangay Hilub-ang, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

Barotolo was tendng to his carabao when 79th IB agents summoned him. A few minutes later, the villagers heard a series of gunshots.

Even before the incident, state forces had repeatedly summoned Barotolo to their headquarters, subjecting him to interrogation and intimidation. This happened while Barangay Hiluh-ang was under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) from 2019-2022.

Residents said they noticed 79th IB assets riding a motorcycle in the barangay when Barotolo was killed. A unit of the 79th IB was also conducting operations at the adjacent Macasilao barangay at that time.

In a statement, the New People’s Army (NPA)-Northern Negros (Roselyn Jean Pelle Command) condemned the military for extrajudicially killing Barotolo. Contrary to military claims, the NPA-Northern Negros clarified that it had nothing to do with the incident.