THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will conduct an investigation about the death of a village watchman who was allegedly murdered by New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Carol-an in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on January 29.

On February 14, about 30 representatives from different sectors, including the local government, security forces, religious sector, and the media convened in a dialogue at the city’s session hall to call for justice for the killing of 40-year-old Cornelio Morales.

Authorities and some stakeholders in Kabankalan City met to initiate the justice process for the death of Morales, who was reportedly killed in front of his daughter.

The discussion highlighted how the government and the community will be able to help the victim's family attain justice, through due process of law and condemnation of NPA atrocities.

CHR representative Vincent Parra said murder charges were already filed by the police against the murderers of Morales, who were identified by witnesses as NPA members.

Parra, during the dialogue, explains the mandate of CHR, which is to investigate complaints of human rights violations.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, commander of 62nd Infantry Battalion, said: “this heinous killing proves that the terrorist NPA's are nothing but a breed of murderers and criminals.”

“They have no respect to human life at all,” he added.

Dacoscos urged the public to be vigilant and report any atrocities by the members of the NPA to the authorities right away. (Christopher D. Yanson, CHMSC-Talisay intern)