MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will conduct a parallel probe into the killing of a former vice mayor and a barangay chairman in Bulacan.
Oca Marquez, former vice mayor of Pandi, and his brother-in-law Mauro Capistrano, chairman of Barangay Bagbaguin, were shot in an eatery in Plaridel on Sunday.
“The commission condemns this act of violence and calls on law enforcement agencies to expedite efforts to identify and persecute the perpetrators, determine the motive for the crime and give justice to the victims and their family,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said.
“Vigilante killings whether politically or not politically motivated violate the right to life and contribute to the growing culture of impunity,” De Guia said.
She said the CHR-Central Luzon regional office would investigate the incident “in recognition of the right to life of the victims and to help bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The Bulacan police created a task force to probe the killing.
De Guia said the commission would also investigate the murder of peasant leader and human rights advocate Jennifer Tonay in Northern Samar on Friday.
The CHR said Tonag was an organizer of the Northern Samar Farmers Association and had supported farmers in defending their rights over the land they till and in demanding relief for victims of calamities.
De Guia said the CHR regional office in Eastern Visayas deployed a quick response team to conduct the probe.