On this year’s commemoration of Human Rights Day, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Negros (BAYAN-Negros) condemned in the strongest terms the escalating human rights violations perpetrated by the Marcos Jr. regime, a press release from organization said.
Behind its façade of democratic rhetoric and the creation of sham mechanisms like the so-called “human rights superbody,” the administration reveals itself as a gross violator of human rights and a loyal puppet of U.S. imperialist interests.
The issuance of Administrative Order No. 22 and the establishment of this “superbody,” co-chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, are hollow gestures. These structures, akin to the earlier Executive Order No. 35, serve merely as tools for image-building and fail to address the worsening state of human rights in the Philippines. On the ground, the regime continues its militarized repression through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which acts with impunity under the guise of “peace and security.”
In Negros, the regime’s hypocrisy is laid bare. Declaring the island as under “Stable Peace and Internal Security” is laughable in the face of sustained military operations targeting communities, farmers, and indigenous peoples. Deploying two brigades of the Philippine Army—a third of the 3rd Infantry Division’s strength—the government has turned Negros into a war zone.
Areas like Candoni, Hinobaan, and Kabankalan, rich in natural resources and eyed for foreign-funded projects, have become hotbeds of land-grabbing and militarization. Local farmers and indigenous peoples are harassed and displaced to make way for exploitative ventures like Hacienda Asia Plantation Inc.’s 6,000-hectare palm oil project. The military’s presence and tactics—such as the forced signing of “surrender” documents and red-tagging of community leaders and organizations—foster a climate of fear, effectively silencing dissent and protest, the statement added.
The grim toll of the regime’s counter-insurgency campaign includes a surge in extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and enforced disappearances. Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) has documented 55 cases of EJKs since Marcos Jr. assumed power in June 2022. Civilians like Christian Job Vargas and Mylene Salgado—falsely labeled as members of the New People’s Army (NPA)—are brutally murdered under the guise of military “encounters.”
The practice of abduction and enforced disappearances also continues, with six documented cases under this regime, including the unresolved case of Iver Larit, a KADAMAY organizer. These incidents underscore the administration’s deliberate campaign of terror aimed at stifling organized resistance.
False charges and red-tagging of progressive organizations have become weapons to suppress legitimate advocacy and humanitarian efforts. Development workers like Clarissa Ramos and Felipe Levy Gelle Jr., among others, face trumped-up accusations under the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. Meanwhile, the state continues to arrest activists en masse, with over 120 political prisoners in Negros alone—a harrowing 18 percent of the national total.
The violations of civil and political rights are compounded by worsening economic crises. The sugar industry—a cornerstone of Negros’ economy—is floundering, with millgate prices plummeting while production costs skyrocket. The regime’s neoliberal policies, including the importation of 240,000 metric tons of sugar, deepen the suffering of small farmers and agricultural workers. The meager P30 wage increase for agricultural workers is a cruel mockery in the face of soaring inflation and escalating poverty.
On this Human Rights Day, BAYAN-Negros called on all Negrenses to rise against the tyranny and puppetry of the Marcos Jr. regime. As the people endure heightened repression and economic hardship, the regime’s focus remains on consolidating power and enriching its allies. The squabbles between Marcos and Duterte factions over corruption further reveal their utter disregard for the people’s welfare.
In this critical moment, BAYAN-Negros also calls for the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Reviving these talks is a meaningful step toward addressing the roots of armed struggle and achieving genuine and just-based peace.
We must unite to expose the regime’s lies, resist its fascist attacks, and assert our rights. Strengthening the struggle for justice and dignity is imperative. The people of Negros, long acquainted with resistance, know that victory is possible through collective action. Together, let us fight for a future grounded in peace, justice, and sovereignty, the statement concluded.*
