A lawyers group yesterday condemned the alleged summary execution of a National Democratic Front consultant and his companion last 30 November in Negros Occidental.

"The NUPL condemns in the strongest possible terms this reported summary execution of Ericson Acosta and demands for an independent and impartial investigation of his case, and to hold accountable those who are responsible therefor," the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers said in a statement.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines publicly claimed that Acosta and his companion who was not identified were killed during an armed encounter with Philippine Army soldiers in Sitio Makilo, Barangay Camansi in Kabankalan town.

Sources of NUPL, however, dispute the claim alleging that no armed encounter occurred, the two were captured alive and both were summarily executed by their captors.

NUPL said Acosta was its client when he was wrongfully arrested for trumped up charges and detained at the Calbayog City Sub-Provincial Jail in Samar sometime in February 2011.

"He stayed in detention for almost two years, and was eventually released upon the dismissal of the cases against him," it said.

The NUPL said that after Acosta's release, they learned that he continued to be involved in advocacies for the advancement of peasant rights.

Acosta, according to NUPL, was "a poet, writer, peasant and peace advocate."