MILITANT groups in Negros Occidental held a Black Friday protest in Bacolod City Friday, August 25, to call for a stop of the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and other types of killings happening under the Duterte administration.
Michael de la Concepcion, spokesperson of Bayan-Negros, said they are urging the administration to prevent the killings and impunity considered results of the government’s declaration of war against illegal drugs, terrorism and rebellion.
“With such declaration, they are creating a culture to kill,” De la Concepcion said, claiming that the number of killed drug suspects and innocents already reached more than 12,000.
De la Concepcion said that people should instead be educated about what’s right and wrong, poor individuals should be provided with employment, and persons addicted or involved in illegal activities especially in drugs should undergo rehabilitation.
He added that cases of killings in the province is minimal compared to the cases in other areas, but he believes the low profile individuals still suffer because individuals that belong to higher social status have the privilege to avoid death.
De la Concepcion said militant groups in the province will hold a Black Protest every Friday until September 21.
Militants also lighted candles to show sympathy to the victims of EJKs and vigilante killings, particularly 17-year-old Kian Lloyd de los Santos, who was gunned down during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City last week.