The Human Rights Advocates in Negros (HRAN) on Friday called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct an immediate, transparent, and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing of a community journalist in Toboso, Negros Occidental, to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
RJ Ledesma, a writer and editor for Paghimutad – Negros Island Alternative Media, was one of 19 people killed in an encounter between the 79th Infantry Battalion and the New People's Army (NPA) in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, on Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.
"No amount of black propaganda can obscure the truth: Ledesma was a non-combatant, shamelessly killed while conducting fieldwork on the impacts of renewable energy projects across Negros Island," Fr. Melvin Fajardo said at an HRAN press conference in Bacolod City.
Fajardo said that aside from the CHR, they are urging other independent bodies to take an active role in pursuing justice and safeguarding the rights of civilians in militarized areas.
HRAN mourns and strongly condemns the killing of Ledesma, he added.
Berlita Ante of Bayan Negros, Noli Rosales of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Hayme Alegre of Kabataan Partylist, and Avon Ang of Altermidya echoed Fajardo’s call for an independent investigation into Ledesma's killing during the press conference.
They said Ledesma was an unarmed non-combatant.
In a statement on Friday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reiterated that "the Toboso encounter was a lawful, intelligence-driven combat operation against armed NPA elements, conducted with full adherence to the Constitution, Rules of Engagement, and International Humanitarian Law, with civilian safety as a top priority."
Claims portraying the incident as an attack on unarmed civilians or students distort the facts and disregard clear evidence of an armed engagement, the statement said.
The AFP urged the public to reject and refrain from spreading false or misleading narratives, and instead support truth-based discourse that upholds accountability, protects communities, and advances lasting peace, it added.*
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