Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) condemned the firing incident involving soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion who allegedly strafed a farmer and a minor in Sitio Nabaisan, Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava, City, Negros Occidental around 10 a.m. on October 17.

According to HRAN, farmer Kato Rizal and his nephew, a minor, were gathering honey in the forested area of the sitio when soldiers conducting operations suddenly opened fire without clear reason.

Rizal reportedly lost consciousness from the incident and sustained injuries in several parts of his body.

As of press time, the minor remains missing and is being searched by relatives, HRAN said.