Kabankalan: The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) lauded the Commission on Human Rights' (CHR) condemnation of the murder of 74-year-old Leonora Anguit outside her home in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, after being allegedly branded as a spy by the New People's Army last February.

According to Philippines News Agency, NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. praised the CHR for its strong stance against the violence, emphasizing the commission's assertion that "no ideology can justify the taking of civilian lives." Torres highlighted that Anguit's murder is part of a broader pattern of 'spy-tagging,' where civilians are accused without evidence and executed without due process.

Torres stated that the CHR's call for accountability resonated with the growing demand for justice in communities affected by such acts. He noted that the CHR has reported a series of civilian killings in the Negros Island Region, flagging these incidents as threats to fundamental rights and community safety.

Torres further elaborated that these killings represent systematic violations impacting the social fabric of communities. He underscored the CHR's reminder that even non-state actors must adhere to international humanitarian law, which mandates the protection of civilians.

In his statement, Torres affirmed that armed groups cannot avoid accountability by citing ideological or revolutionary motives. He acknowledged the CHR's directive to law enforcement to conduct thorough and impartial investigations as a crucial step in breaking the cycle of impunity and ensuring justice for victims' families.