CHR Condemns NPA Killings in Negros, Cites Pattern of Civilian Executions

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Island has issued a strong condemnation against the New People’s Army (NPA) for the killing of a 74-year-old civilian woman in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, describing the act as a “blatant violation of the fundamental right to life.”

In a statement released on March 27, 2026, the CHR identified the victim as Leonora “Nora” Anguit, who was shot dead on February 3, 2026 inside her residence in Barangay Tapi. The NPA’s Armando Sumayang Jr. Command claimed responsibility for the execution, accusing the elderly woman of being a "military informant."

“No ideology can justify the taking of civilian lives,” the CHR declared, emphasizing that such acts “pose a grave threat” to the “peace and safety of communities in the region.” The Commission stressed that even non-state actors are “bound to respect international humanitarian law” and must adhere to the “obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants at all times.”

The killing of Anguit is not an isolated incident, according to. The CHR highlighted a disturbing series of “successive killings” allegedly linked to the NPA in the Negros Island

Region since January 2025. Documented victims include:

• Efren Solinap (March 11, 2025)

• Jonhee Montoya (April 2, 2025)

• Jury Gani (May 14, 2025)

• Leonardo Nepalar (June 18, 2025)

• Joebert Alsado and Elias Palay (June 22, 2025)

The commission likewise declared that "the perpetrators must be held accountable to the full extent of the law."

Prior to this development, Buklod Kapayapaan Federation Inc., the national organization of former rebels, has moved to engage the Commission directly. On March 19, 2026, BKFI, alongside other organizations, requested a dialogue with CHR Chairperson Atty. Richard P. Palpal-latoc.

The federation expressed deep concern over at least 44 reported summary executions (including the 6 that the CHR has identified) in Negros over the past year. It noted that several victims were former CPP-NPA-NDF members who had successfully reintegrated into society and were “actively accessing civic space” for reconciliation.

The CHR has since launched “motu proprio investigations” through its regional office in the Negros Island Region, running parallel to probes by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The Commission urged law enforcement to undertake “prompt and impartial investigations” to ensure “full accountability and deliver justice” to the bereaved families. 

Expressing urgency over the situation, the CHR called for “coordinated action among duty-bearers” to protect the “right to security in one’s home” and prevent further escalation of violence in the region.