CHR nearing completion of report on Batangas ‘rubout’

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday said it is on track to making its final report on its investigation into the killing of suspected bank robbers in Batangas last month. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that CHR chairwoman Leila de Lima said they are "almost finished" in preparing the final report on whether the killing of suspected RCBC robbers was a result of a legitimate encounter or a rubout. But De Lima said that sworn statements by some 17 witnesses they interviewed so far have been "inconsistent" with the findings released by Task Force RCBC under Sr. Supt. Aaron Fidel. She, however, did not elaborate. Fidel heads a task force tracking down the suspects in the bloody Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) robbery-massacre in Cabuyao, Laguna last May 16. Fidel insisted the killing of some suspects in the robbery last month was a result of a legitimate police operation, and that there was a shootout between the suspects and police. Last week, De Lima said the CHR is giving itself "roughly" two weeks to finalize its findings on the matter. If the evidence warrants, De Lima said, the CHR will recommend the prosecution of those it deems liable. But she admitted the CHR may not be able to go beyond that, as it has no prosecutorial powers. De Lima had previously described the incident as a rubout based on initial findings of the commission. - GMANews.TV