Murder charges have been filed against a congressman from Negros.

Negros Occidental First District Rep. Melecio Yap Jr. is facing four murder charges and one charge of frustrated murder over alleged extra-judicial killings.

Escalante City Prosecutor Ranela de la Fuente said she filed the criminal charges against Yap based on cases filed before the Ombudsman.

Yap is accused of conniving with members of the New People's Army (NPA) in carrying out extra-judicial killings from 2007 to 2010 while he was mayor of Escalante.

In a phone interview with ABS-CBN News, Yap said he has already referred the matter to his legal counsel. He also said the charges against him were harassment.

Yap earlier filed a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman after it found probable cause to file charges against him. The Ombudsman, however, denied Yap's motion.

According to dela Fuente, Yap's case will be raffled off this week. Eight others have been named in the murder and frustrated murder charges.