The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has condemned the killing of Barangay Captain Vivencio Palo of Barangay San Carlos in Lipa City, Batangas last Feb. 26.

An attack against a person “is not only a violation of fundamental human rights but also goes directly against the principles of justice and morality," the CHR said in a statement.

It said that closed circuit television footage of the killing showed that Palo was standing on top of a pickup truck and was unloading items for his store around 5:15 a.m. when a car stopped beside his truck.

The still unidentified passenger fired multiple shots that hit Palo who was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead in the emergency room, it said.

It said it has conducted a quick response operation through its regional office in Calabarzon.

"CHR notes that this incident is a recent addition to the already distressing series of violence against government officials this 2023," it said in a statement.

“As an independent national human rights institution, we stress that every human being has the right to live without fear of harm or violence,” it said.

Whether the attack against Palo was politically motivated or not, the CHR said that harming an individual is unacceptable as the value of human life is immeasurable.

It called on the Lipa City police to investigate Palo’s killing as it expressed hope that the probe would be conducted with urgency and impartiality.