CHR to probe deaths of NDF consultant, peasant organizer

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) announced it will conduct a motu proprio investigation into the deaths of NDF consultant Ericson Acosta and peasant organizer Joseph Jimenez in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Human rights group Karapatan called on CHR to investigate after NDF-Negros reported that Acosta and Jimenez were killed in a military operation on November 30, but initially captured alive.

Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay said the report indicated the two were captured at 2 a.m. of November 30 but later tagged as casualties in a supposed 'fake encounter' hours later, with residents saying the bodies had stab wounds.

Philippine Army spokesperson Medel Aguilar dismissed the NDF report as lies, accusing the group of fabricating claims and trying to discredit the military.

Church leaders and human rights advocates reiterate calls for a thorough and impartial probe, highlighting that the killings violate the NDFP-GRP Comprehensive Agreement on human rights and international humanitarian law.