‘Soldiers shot botanist, companions after thinking they were communist rebels’
By Abigail C. Kwok, InterAksyon.com
December 18, 2012
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said soldiers mistook botanist Leonard Co and his companions as communist rebels when they fired at Co’s group two years ago in Kananga, Leyte.
Although the Army operation was was “legitimate,” the supposed encounter was not, CHR chairperson Etta Rosales said in a phone interview.
“There was no legitimate encounter because the military failed to see the difference between the combatants and non-combatants. These were civilians and soldiers mistook them to be combatants. They shot at these people. That is a violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL),” Rosales said.
Read full article @ www.interaksyon.com
Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.



![[Featured Article] Digital Rights Round-Up (January 1 to 31, 2026) | FMA](https://hronlineph.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/fb_img_1769939551986.jpg?w=1024)
![[Press Release] EcoWaste Coalition Tags 10 QC Stores for Selling Banned Cosmetics Contaminated with Mercury](https://hronlineph.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/the-ecowaste-coalition-reminds-beauty-product-dealers-that-skin-lighteners-with-mercury-is-prohibited-in-quezon-city.jpeg?w=1024)
![[Featured Article] For years, residents opposed the Atimonan coal plant. It’s greenlit anyway. | Rappler](https://hronlineph.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/514.jpg?w=1024)
![[Event] KUMUSTAHAN: Manila Bay Para sa Tao Story Specials Series | Manila Bay Para sa Tao](https://hronlineph.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/512.jpg?w=1024)
Leave a comment