14 killed in police operations in Negros Oriental —police

Continued police operations against criminality in Negros Oriental have so far left dead 14 suspected criminals, who the Kabataan party-list claimed were local farmers and not outlaws.

A Super Radyo dzBB report on Saturday afternoon quoted Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office head Colonel Raul Tacaca as saying 14 suspects have been killed so far in separate operations in Canlaon City, and in the towns of Manjuyod and Sta. Catalina.

Labing-apat na indibidwal patay sa operasyon ng pulisya sa Negros Oriental | via @cabrerajulee731 pic.twitter.com/MoPBnVuatj

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 30, 2019

Based on information reaching his office, Tacaca said eight suspects were killed in Canlaon City, four in Manjuyod and two in Sta. Catalina, GMA News' Julee Anne Mae Cabrera reported.

Police operatives proceeded to their respective targets but the suspects shot it out with the authorities trying to serve the search warrants.

In a statement, the Kabataan party-list identified some of the victims as:

• Ismael Avelino, 53, is a habal-habal driver and Sitio Carmen, Brgy.Panubigan, Canlaon City, Neg.Or.
• Edgardo Avelino, 59, is a farmer and resident of Sitio Carmen, Brgy.Panubigan, Canlaon City, Neg.Or.
• Melchor Pañares, 67, married, farmer and Sitio Tigbahi Brgy. Bayog, Canlaon City, Neg.Or. - AMAHAN
• Mario Pañares, 46 years old, no husband and farmer
• Rogelio Ricomuno, 52, a farmer and a farmer from Sitio Manggata Brgy Masulog -1, Canlaon City, Neg.Or.
• Ricky Ricomuno, 28, no husband and one farmer
• Gonzalo Rosales, 47, unmarried, a farmer and resident of Proper Brgy Pula, Canlaon City, Neg.Or.
• Genes Palmares, 54, unmarried, farmer and resident in Proper Brgy Aquino, Canlaon City, Neg.Or.

Twelve suspects, meanwhile, were arrested, even as the police operations have continued as of posting time.

According to the party-list, the incident in Canlaon happened Friday night, when more than 10 uniformed personnel entered their home last night who claimed to have a search warrant but reportedly had none to show in actual.

"This series of fascist attacks follows after the Sagay Massacre, which killed nine farmers in Negros Occidental last December. It is a sad reality that those who work hard to produce food for the rest of the nation have nothing to provide for themselves and their families. Even more appalling is the fact that when our farmers are not dying of starvation, they find themselves gunned down and rained upon by bullets," said Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Elago.

"We hold the Duterte administration and his armed forces accountable for this crime against our farmers. The youth stands with our farmers as we call for justice for the victims of the Canlaon Massacre and all the victims of state-perpetrated violence and bogus land reform programs," she added. 

According to Elago's group, there have been about at least 180 farmers killed in the Duterte administration alone, at least 40 of which are farmers from the Negros Island. —LBG/MDM, GMA News