Makabayan bloc denounces PNP-Army ops in Negros Oriental

The Makabayan bloc on Saturday condemned a police and army operation in Negros Oriental, which they claim to have resulted in the death of at least six individuals and arrest of sixteen.

Citing reports, the Makabayan bloc said the operations were allegedly conducted by the 302nd Infantry Brigade, 94th Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police.

"We condemn this violent crackdown on peaceful and legal activists and community organizers in Negros Oriental. We denounce the use of dirty tactics from the drug war, particularly the 'nanlaban' storyline, to cover up and justify the extrajudicial killing of activists," said the Makabayan bloc.

Among those killed were Jesus “Dondon” Isugan, son of peasant organizers Delia and Dominador Isugan; community organizers Reneboy Fat and Jaime Revilla; and Demetrio Fat, cousin of a peasant organizer.

The six were reportedly killed as the PNP and AFP allegedly served search warrants in their homes for alleged illegal possession of firearms, the Makabayan bloc said.

Meanwhile, at least 16 peasant organizers have been arrested, including Margie Baylosis, her cousin Joey, and five others in Mabinay, Negros Oriental. Relatives of Margie Baylosis claim that firearms were planted in their residence.

"These killings and arrests are directly attributable to Pres. Duterte's recent call to 'destroy the Left," they added.

The Makabayan bloc claimed that the recent mass arrests and killings in Negros are part of the continuing "insidious plan of the Duterte government to sow terror and to clamp down on mass organizations that are critical of his anti-people policies."

"This includes the failure to implement genuine agrarian reform which is behind decades of abject poverty in the province among poor and landless peasants. This poverty was further aggravated by the implementation of the TRAIN law," the bloc said.

It added that Negros islands is among three provinces where President Rodrigo Duterte ordered, via Memorandum Order No. 32, additional troops deployed.

Also, Negros in recent months had been highlighted by twin gruesome murder cases whose victims were members of a progressive organization and a human rights defender, the bloc added.

Last October 20, nine farm workers belonging to the National Federation of Sugar Workers were massacred allegedly by private armed goons of an influential political clan in the province. Less than a month after, National Union of People’s Lawyers-Negros Secretary General Atty. Ben Ramos was gunned down. Atty. Ramos assisted the families of the victims of the Sagay 9 massacre, according to the Makabayan bloc.

"We call for an immediate end to all extrajudicial killings, and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice," the bloc said.

Meanwhile, former Bayan Muna representative and Makabayan Coalition chairperson Neri Colmenares denounced the series of wholesale oppression and rights violations against the ordinary people of Negros.

“It seems that for the PNP and AFP are remiss in their duty to disarm the private goons in the province but worse, if they are not in league with them the state forces also turn a blind eye against the abuses of some influential political clans in the region just like what happened in IloIlo. The AFP, PNP and private goons continue to commit grave rights violations against the people asserting their rights," Colmenares said.

The Makabayan chairman also said that the abuses allegedly perpetrated by state forces against the people of Negros can be traced back to the statements and policy direction of President Rodrigo Duterte himself.

The Memorandum Order No. 32, the DOJ proscription, Oplan Kapayapaan among others are part of a policy to vilify as well as red tag critics and the opposition which includes progressive lawmakers in the House of Representatives, he said.

“The Filipino people must not let this obvious Marcosian tactic of Duterte to continue. What is happening in Negros right now is just part of the grand scheme of Duterte to perpetuate human rights abuses in a nationwide scale to protect his morally degrading government. We should expose, oppose and resist his growing tyranny,” said Colmenares.

The Makabayan bloc in Congress is composed of ACT Teachers party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate, Gabriela Women's Party Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis party-list Representative Ariel Casilao and Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago.

GMA News Online has contacted the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News