KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Renee Co has strongly condemned the killing of a father in Sorsogon who was reportedly on his way to attend his child’s moving-up ceremony, urging authorities to ensure accountability and deliver justice.

Co denounced the incident as a “brutal” shooting, identifying the victim as James Quiñones, who died on March 25 after allegedly being struck by multiple gunshots reportedly fired by military personnel.

Citing the victim’s family, the lawmaker said Quiñones sustained several gunshot wounds—contradicting earlier claims by state authorities that he had been killed by a stray bullet.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of James Quiñones. It is unacceptable to distort the truth in the face of eyewitness accounts from the family itself. There is no place for this kind of brutality in the lives of Filipino citizens,” Co said.

Family members of Quiñones have taken to social media to express their grief and call for justice, raising concerns over what they described as a lack of accountability from military forces.

They also alleged that the presence of armed personnel in the area instilled fear among residents, preventing immediate assistance to the victim. According to relatives, no one approached Quiñones for hours despite his condition due to fear of the military.

Co criticized what she described as the harmful impact of militarization in civilian communities, saying it undermines the rule of law, violates international humanitarian standards, and erodes public trust.

She further asserted that responsibility should not be limited to ground troops, pointing to the 31st Infantry Battalion and linking the incident to broader government security policies.

The lawmaker vowed to continue advocating for justice for victims of alleged state violence, both in rural and urban communities.