CHR condemns killings of local execs, civilians

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday condemned the recent spate of killings involving local officials, a political supporter, and members of vulnerable sectors.

In a statement, CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann De Guia said they have dispatched an investigation team to look into the killings of two barangay captains, one in Malabon City and the other in Agusan del Sur.

“As CHR conducts its parallel investigation on the cases mentioned, we hope that the Philippine National Police will probe the deaths to uncover the truth and hold perpetrators accountable,” De Guia said.

Fillemon Villanueva, 68, was shot outside of his own residence by an unidentified gunman in Barangay Tonsuya, Malabon City on Saturday morning.

Police Colonel Albert Barot confirmed that Villanueva died later that day.

Librado Juventud, meanwhile, was gunned down by a gunman on a motorcycle just few meters outside his house in Barangay Mabuhay on Monday.

Nine rounds of ammunition were recovered from the crime scene.

According to the CHR, a supporter of the incumbent Mayor of Dagupan and a political aspirant allegedly running for barangay chairman in the coming local election was also shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the parking area of the cockpit arena in Pangasinan Coliseum, Barangay San Miguel on Sunday.

On the same day, a village chief and two others survived an attempt on their life outside the Baggao Cockpit Arena, it added.

Meanwhile, the Commission said that it will conduct a motu proprio investigation into the alleged rape-slay of a businesswoman in San Miguel, Bulacan.

Regine Sebastian, 30 and a single parent, was found dead on Sunday afternoon with bruises on different parts of the body, the cable of a cellphone charger wrapped around her neck, and wearing an upper garment but no underwear.

Moreover, CHR vowed to look into the death of an eight-year-old child in Pasig who died after his parents allegedly hit him several times.

Based on initial investigation, police said the the boy's stepfather rushed him to the hospital on Friday afternoon after he was found unconscious at around 2:55 p.m.

Both the child’s mother and stepfather admitted to hitting him with slippers as a way of disciplining him for failing to finish his school modules.

The autopsy report, however, showed the victim died of blunt traumatic injury.

“The Commission will work closely with local authorities to aid in solving these brazen violations on the right to life,” the CHR stressed. — Mel Matthew Doctor/BM, GMA News