KAISAHAN, a legal rights non-government organization advocating for the land rights of landless farmers in Negros Occidental, condemns the brutal killing of the 14 farmers of Negros Oriental during a series of joint operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) last weekend.
Police reports suspected the victims as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and were shot because they allegedly resisted arrest.
“They were killed in front of their families. There was no proof that the victims resisted. The officers entered the victims’ homes without a warrant. A massacre can never be justified, may it be of suspected rebels or criminals,” Kaisahan said in a press statement.
The “Sagay 9” massacre, the murder of human rights lawyer, Atty. Ben Ramos, and the killing of “Negros 14”—all of these happened within five months in the same island, the group stated.
“This is an unfortunate proof that ‘red-tagging’ endangers the life of our farmers and the marginalized communities who do nothing but work hard for their basic needs, and reclaim their rights,” the statement also read. “As we pay our respects to the victims and their families, may this be a reminder that incidents like this are a clear indication that the rule of law in our country is dying and needs saving.”
The group demands impartial investigation of the death of 14 farmers and also called for the end of brutal killings. (PR)