Screengrab from DILG

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has launched its own probe into the case of a journalist who was dragged into the killing of a police officer in Malolos, Bulacan—an accusation he strongly denies.

The CHR’s involvement came after the Presidential Task Force on Media Security flagged possible harassment and pressure against the journalist, prompting closer scrutiny of the case.

Journalist Orlan Mauricio has spoken out after he and his son were publicly linked to the crime, insisting they had nothing to do with the murder. Mauricio believes there may be powerful figures behind the accusations, noting that he has long been a vocal critic of the Bulacan provincial government.

Police records show that Police Staff Sergeant Renato Casauay Jr. was reported missing on January 24. Four days later, on January 28, Police Corporal Vivencio Abalos reportedly confessed to another officer that he was behind the killing. The remains of Casauay were later discovered inside a septic tank on January 31.

What continues to puzzle Mauricio is the timing of his son’s arrest. According to him, his son Oliver Paul was taken into custody even before the police officer’s body was recovered.

Amid these developments, the CHR has dispatched investigators to Malolos to look into allegations that Mauricio’s son was physically harmed in an attempt to force a confession.

The CHR said it will closely examine whether the rights of those involved were violated as the investigation into the controversial case continues.