The National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) condemns 1,000 rampaging police and military troops from the 302nd Infantry Brigade operating in the mountainous villages of Guihulngan City, La Libertad, Mabinay, Santa Catalina, and other parts of Negros Oriental since the evening of December 27 up to the present.
According to John Milton Lozande, secretary general of NFSW, they have already killed so far 6 people, allegedly because they fought it out with the brigade size security forces ala Tokhang style and arrested 16 persons.
Among those killed was Jesus “Dondon” Isugan, son of Kaugmaon KMP peasant organizers Delia and Dominador Isugan. Others were habal-habal drivers Reneboy Fat and Jaime Revilla, who are community organizers and Demetrio Fat, who is a brother in law of a peasant organizer.
Those who were arrested include peasant organizer Margie Baylosis, cousin of Joey Baylosis, also a peasant organizer who was arbitrarily arrested with 5 others in Mabinay.
Allegedly the state security forces have 119 search warrants with them for loose firearms and illegal drugs. More than 80 of those warrants are in Guihulngan City and only 20 have been served so far. But reports from Karapatan Negros reveal that no warrants were shown to those who were arrested and firearms were planted to them and to those who were killed.
These atrocities come at a time after the Sagay Massacre, the killing of Atty. Benjamin Ramos the recent arrest of NFSW local leader Ricky Canete; the death threats against other peasant, worker and human rights and development workers, and military operations in Northern Negros.
What is different though especially on the Sagay massacre and killing of Atty. Ben which state security forces blamed on the rebels and even on the former on the NFSW, this time the PNP and AFP have no qualms in claiming these latest killings and arrests as their own.
They are goaded by President Duterte’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Negros Island as part of EO32 and his recent announcement of a Suharto style solution to the destruction of the leftist movement in Indonesia. During that time 500,000 -3 million Indonesians were killed which included ethnic Chinese, students, union members and any other who might have personal feuds with the hit men.
The NFSW demands a halt to these military operations in Negros Oriental and an independent investigation on these atrocities and justice to those who were killed and arrested. If this would not be stopped, this could be replicated in other areas similarly situated like Samar, the Bicol region and especially in Mindanao where martial law was extended. A Suharto solution to the civil strife in the country is unacceptable and will be condemned vehemently not only in this country but internationally as well. Only a madman and tyrant like Duterte can think of such.
