A report from the Human Rights Advocates in Negros (HRAN) dated August 27, 2022 recommended a crime for Multiple Murder and Robbery be filed against Brig. General Inocencio Pasaporte, elements of the Commanding Officer of the Operating Troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion and its Battalion Commander in relation to the murder of three individuals, including a pregnant woman and a minor, in Barangay Budlasan, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental last July 26, 2022.

The fact-finding team from HRAN countered Pasaporte’s claims in the media that there was an encounter between Philippine Army and the New People’s Army (NPA) and that the latter suffered three casualties, who were Christina Jacolbe, Ernie Jacolbe and Everly Lee Jacolbe.

However, the report asserts the three victims were not elements of the NPA. Christina Sandot Jacolbe was a daycare teacher in Sitio Natuling in Barangay Budlasan. She was also pregnant at the time of the incident.

Everly Kee Jacolbe, daughter of Christina Jacolbe, was a Grade 11 student in Cabacungan National High School in La Castellana City. She was in Canlaon City at the time of her murder to visit her parents, and she was supposed to go back to La Castellena on August 2 to celebrate her elder sister’s birthday. Her school records show she was garnering excellent grades. Her two siblings say she was an intelligent, funny, God-fearing and obedient young lady. She dreamed of becoming a teacher like her mother.

Roldan Montero was a gaffer (labahero) of different cockpits in Negros. He was a relative and neighbor of the Jacolbe family. His parents are known for making native delicacies, and on the night before his murder, he delivered “alupi”, a cassava delicacy, to the house of Christina Jacolbe, where he spent the night.

The report also maintained that there was no encounter between the Philippine Military and the NPA.

Witnesses Christian S. Jacolbe, brother of Everly, and Chrismarie Sandot, sister-in-law of Christina, narrate in their affidavits that they immediately proceeded to Barangay Budlasan after receiving a call from Maria Lyn Jacolbe about the gunfire they heard near the house of Christina Jacolbe.

Upon reaching the house at 9:00 AM, three persons armed with M-6 and M-4 rifles prevented them from entering. They identified one of them as elements of the Philippine Scout Rangers of the Philippine Army and two were under the Citizen Brigade of the Philippine Army.

The witnesses state in their affidavit that they could hear Everly Kee Jacolbe crying in pain and begging for mercy. The two pleaded to bring her to the hospital, but three armed men threatened the witnesses and forced them to return to the top of the hill, where they waited. The witnesses report that they later saw three bodies wrapped in clothing being carried to a waiting military truck.

In a phone call, the husband of Christina provided further details, saying he was cooking inside his house around 5:00 AM when he heard gunfire. After verifying the military was surrounding the house, he shouted at them to arrest him and not to shoot as there were children inside. Gunfire was directed at his house and he ran for cover. After seeing his wife, Christina, their daughter Everly, and Roldan Montero were already hit, he escaped the house.

The medico legal report states the three victims were riddled with bullets and died of gunshot wounds.

The fact-finding report also noted the three victims were killed inside the house as evidenced by the bullet holes in the walls and roofs, the empty shells recovered outside and not a single shell located inside the house.

The report also asserts that the photos disseminated by the Philippine Army on their website and in the media depict a crime scene, which was arranged. There was no blood spilled next to the cadavers in contrast to the blood inside the house and weapons were allegedly placed near them.

The day before the killings, the military had ransacked Christian Jacolbe’s house, taking the amount of P40,000, which were profits from a cow and pig he sold the day before. The military also took savings in coins amounting to P3,000, one chainsaw and two android cell phones.

The report concluded that three victims, as well as Christina’s unborn child, were not members of the NPA and that the killings by the Philippine Army were a merciless act.