CHR probes into Mabinay shootout

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights-Negros Oriental is set to initiate an independent investigation into Wednesday’s shootout between police and civilians that left five people dead in Mabinay town of Negros Oriental.

Jesus Cañete, CHR’s special investigator and provincial chief, on Friday told The FREEMAN, via telephone interview, that he will be carrying out the motu propio investigation next week to determine possible irregularities in the shootout that involved government troops.

Cañete said he initially communicated with Chief Inspector Rogelio Pacificar, chief of the Mabinay Police, for details of the incident, asking the latter to email him all available reports.

The CHR has by all means jurisdiction over the case considering that government troops were involved in it. If there are no irregularities found, then he will clear those that had figured in the encounter, Cañete told Pacificar.

If warranted, Cañete said he would recommend for the autopsy of the victims, even in the absence of a complainant. Initial reports reaching CHR stated that some of the victims appeared to have been shot at close range, but this has to be verified, he said.

To recall, operatives of the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7, detailed in Mabinay, had engaged in a shootout with a group of about 10 civilians Wednesday at the compound of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in that mountain town.

The armed engagement left five people dead, four of whom were identified as employees of the Bais City local government unit and detailed with the Civil Security Office, namely, Feliciano “Fely” Candido, Cedric Regino, Anghel Torres and Renato Torres. The fifth fatality was a civilian, identified as Grasing Enbalsado.

Early police reports said the group, led by Candido, went to the DENR compound in Bulwang, Mabinay to negotiate for the release of a chainsaw that was confiscated in early November for alleged illegal tree-cutting activity at a government reforestation area.

The Mabinay DENR station chief, Dionisia Trongcoso, then called for assistance from the RPSB-7 for an “armed persons” alarm.

The responding RPSB-7 personnel, however, noticed one of the civilians with a bulging waist, prompting the police to ask him to voluntarily submit himself for inspection, the report said. But somebody from Candido’s group allegedly opened fire at the government troops, resulting in the shootout.

Another civilian in Candido’s group was wounded while three others were arrested afterwards for alleged illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Three policemen assigned in Bais City were also slightly wounded.

Cañete assured the public he will get to the bottom of the Mabinay incident at the earliest time possible as he urged potential complainants to appear at his office. The families of the slain civilians have accused the police of firing at Candido’s group first. (FREEMAN)