The family of Crispin Tingal Jr., a farmer who was allegedly killed by the 94th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in an encounter in Himamaylan last May 3, denied the claim made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that he was a member of the New People’s Army.

According to Tingal’s wife, the 36-year old farmer was a good husband and a loving father to 7 children.

He was also active in sustainable livelihood programs spearheaded by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as well as a member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).

The September 21 Movement reported that Tingal was tied up, beaten, and shot dead. One of Tingal’s sons was reportedly chased and shot at, but he managed to escape. 

According to Tingal’s brother, the incident happened shortly after Tingal attended a seminar on catch fish production organized by the Kabankalan City Agriculture Office. He also witnessed the soldiers tying up the farmer alive.

In a radio interview, Tingal’s wife, Dolly, also was near the river when she heard the gunshots. Out of fear, Dolly and one of their children stayed in hiding near the riverbank until it was dark. They eventually went to the evacuation site in Sitio Paloypoy, Brgy. Hilamonan, where an estimated 38 other families took refuge.

The next morning, Tingal’s wife heard the announcement from Van Donald Almonte, the 94th IB Philippine Army Commander, that her husband was killed in action in Sitio Ulo-Tuburan, Barangay Buenavista and was labeled an NPA member. They were only able to identify his body when it had already been brought to the funeral parlor.

Family members and neighbors also took to social media to air their grievances and call for justice for the killing.

“[The military] should have just brought him to the authorities for investigation to determine if he was truly a member of the NPA, even though everyone knows what a responsible father and good friend he is to the community. [They] just suddenly abducted him, tied him up and shot him like he was nothing but an animal in [their] eyes. [They] have killed an innocent person.” a public post on Facebook stated in Hiligaynon.

The September 21 Movement also condemned the killing and urged the LGU of Kabankalan to assist the victims’ families. 

The rights group also called for an end to militarization in rural areas and the defunding of NTF-ELCAC, and urged the Commission on Human Rights to investigate these incidents.