CHR condemns killing of Mangyan tribe leader in Occidental Mindoro

The Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday condemned the killing of a Mangyan tribe leader who had been held captive by the New People’s Army in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

“The Commission on Human Rights strongly condemns the killing of Jose Barrera, 47, a resident of Sitio Liberty, Barangay Naibuan, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement.

NPA guerrillas allegedly executed Barrera, a Hanunuo Mangyan tribe leader, five days after he was abducted from his home on April 7. 

Barrera's family claimed he was killed for refusing to support candidates the NPA is endorsing, and for rejecting NPA's invitation to rejoin the group.

“We then call on the government to ensure that all perpetrators be made accountable for this crime and exercise greater vigilance in addressing the complexities of election-related violences as the polling date grows closer,” De Guia said.

Reports from the Regional Intelligence Division and 4th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army Intelligence confirmed that Barerra was a former rebel who worked as team leader under Platoon Olip (an NPA term) assigned to Sitio Liberty.

He surrendered to the military on August 10, 2018 and was recently awarded the E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program).

The Mangyan community had expressed their frustration and anguish over the incident. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BM, GMA News