THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Occidental is monitoring updates on the shootout that involved police officers and drug suspects in Bacolod City last week that led to the death of a village councilman and injured two others.
CHR-Negros Occidental head Romeo Baldevarona said they are waiting for a go-signal from the regional office to conduct a motu proprio
investigation.
“We can conduct a motu proprio investigation if there’s alleged human rights violation. And there’s a need for the family or victims to file a complaint if there are lapses and abuses from the personnel of Police Stations 6 and 7 (during the incident),” he said.
He added that his office submitted clippings of the news reports to the regional office, but he stressed that there were no allegations of foul play or lapses from police officers, citing the media reports.
Baldevarona said they prepared the report so they can immediately evaluate and assess the case if there is a formal complaint, adding that they can start the investigation anytime.
On September 13, the police shootout at Barangay Taculing claimed the life of Bacong Montilla councilman Rodolfo Gayagas Jr. of Bago City while his cousin, village chief Federico Gayagas Jr., and John Abong were injured.
The operation also led to the arrest of Jaime “Morito” Benares, Samson Gonzaga, and Reynante Firmias.
Gayagas, who is still confined at Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, and the five other suspects are facing charges for possession of illegal drugs and firearms, ammunition and grenade before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office.
Federico Gayagas Jr. had admitted being a confidential informant of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and they were planning to arrest Benares, who has a pending arrest warrant for drug cases.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had earlier said that Gayagas will remain in his post as his pending case is not a basis for his dismissal.