On May 30, Jigger Barotolo, a farmer from Sitio Sangay, Barangay Hilub-ang, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, was shot dead.
According to some witnesses, Barotolo was summoned by “disguised soldiers” of the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB).
Police Major Wilfredo Benoman Jr., the town police chief, said Barotolo was on his way home to pasture his carabao when he was shot by two unidentified persons.
Villagers heard gunshots. Four bullet wounds killed the farmer.
The victim suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, right elbow, left leg, and waist. He was rushed to Calatrava Municipal Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Benoman noted that no fired bullets were recovered from the crime scene, but they suspect that a .38 caliber revolver or an improvised homemade shotgun was used by the perpetrators.
He also mentioned that Barotolo had no prior police record but had been complained about in the barangay for his behavior when drunk.
Witnesses reported seeing disguised soldiers from the 79th IB on motorcycles near the scene during the incident. A unit of the 79th IB was also patrolling in the nearby Barangay Macasilao at the time. They denied the allegations.
Also, the NPA’s Northern Negros command stated they had no involvement in the killing and condemned the act.
The New People’s Army might be employing them as scapegoats; or vice-versa.
The case is still under investigation.
This incident has stirred significant controversy and calls for justice. Barotolo’s death is part of a troubling pattern of violence against farmers in Negros Occidental.
Similar incidents, like the killings of Braulio Tobalado and Jose Caramihan, have seen communities disputing military claims that the victims were NPA members, asserting these individuals were civilians.