The decapitated body of a farmer was found in a ravine in Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental.
The remains of Bernardo Guillen, 50, was positively identified by his younger brother when it was found last weekend. He was reported missing last September 17.
Guillen reportedly disappeared after an encounter between the military and members of the New People’s Army in the area.
Negros-based rights group Karapatan and the Sama-samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo (SAKA) condemned the killing of Guillen.
“We call on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for an independent and thorough investigation into the said killing,” Karapatan Negros Clarizza Singson said in a statement.
“We also challenge the local government to address this senseless killing and gross human rights violations happening in the communities of farmers,” she added.
Bernardo is the father of Bernard Guillen, one of six activists known as Mabinay 6, who were arrested by the military on suspicion of being NPA rebels.
The groups believe the farmer was killed by state forces on Negros Island.
SAKA said Guillen and his family were instructed by the Philippine military to evacuate from their home after the encounter with the NPA members.
“As his wife and children carried on to a safer place, he had to return home, but never made it back to his family,” it said.
Guillen is the latest peasant alleged to have become a victim under the Duterte administration. At least 275 peasants have been killed since 2016, according to SAKA.