The Commission on Human Rights is investigating the alleged human rights violations committed by soldiers of the 11th Infantry Battalion, in the arrest of 19 Bukidnon tribe members, including three minors, during an encounter in the hinterlands of Isabela, Negros Occidental, last month.

Eight of them were charged for murder and multiple frustrated murder, in the death of two soldiers and injuries of four others, military records show.

The CHR investigation, that started Jan. 2, was in connection with the complaints lodged by the National Commission on Indigenous People against the Philippine Army for the arrest of the 19 tribe members in Brgy. San Agustin, Isabela, on Dec. 13.

CHR provincial chief, Romeo Baldevarona, yesterday said the investigations will focus on the existence of human rights violations. However, they will leave it to the court to determine the legality of the arrest of the 19 persons, he added.

Col. Francisco Patrimonio, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, and Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, earlier justified the arrest of the 19 individuals, saying they were at the encounter site.

Three of the eight detained suspects also tested positive for gunpowder nitrates, Patrimonio said.

Dimas and Abraham Lindayao admitted in an interview with ABS-CBN that they were indeed members of the NPA.

Human rights group, Karapatan, in a statement, however, claimed that the 19 farmers were illegally picked up from their houses.*GPB

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