March 30 marked the 4th year commemoration of the bloody 2019 Synchronized Enhanced Military – Police Operation (SEMPO), also known as Oplan Sauron 2, of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) forces.
That day, Judge Peras of Cebu City issued over a hundred search warrants that led to the brutal deaths of 14 leaders and members of KMP – KAUGMAON (Kahugpongan Alang sa Ugma sa Gagmay’ng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros) in the city of Canlaon, and towns of Manjuyod and Sta. Catalina, a press release from Bayan-Negros said.
Among those who were killed were Edgardo and Esmael Avelino, Mario and Melchor Pañares, Rogelio and Ricky Ricomuno, all of Canlaon City; and Brgy. Captain Valentin Acabal of Brgy. Candabong and Brgy. Captain Sonny Palagtiw of Brgy. Panciao of Manjuyod town.
Also, a number of activist-farmers were illegally arrested and were planted with short arms and grenades. Those arrested included Azucena Garubat and Corazon Javier, who is currently facing health problems; both are still detained at the Canlaon City Jail.
These tragic and brutal incidents are but the results of the issuance of Duterte’s Memorandum Order No. 32 (MO32) on November 2018 that placed Negros, Samar, and the entire Bicol region under a “state of lawlessness”; and this commanded the deployment of hundreds of additional Army and other government troops.
“We only have to see the bloody casualties of Duterte’s MO32 to understand that the situation is getting worse and that there is a need to further work on our efforts to stop the impunity committed by the AFP and PNP as their response to the unabated social unrest,” the press release said.
“There can never be a genuine and lasting peace in our country if we do not fight for justice for all victims of state repression and for our toiling masses of workers, farmers, and farm workers, rendered not only landless, but also homeless,” it said.
In solidarity with the victims of SEMPO 2, the 27 women Political Prisoners of Negros joined yesterday’s whole-day fasting protest by their male counterparts. The activity also called for the release of political prisoners, especially those elderly and sickly, who are still languishing in jail.
They also called for justice of those salvaged via SEMPO and to all other people’s martyrs, such as Zara Alvarez and lawyer Benjamin Ramos, which deprived political prisoners of a reliable and effective support system in Negros.
“We call for a stop on the attacks on activists and advocates. We call for an end to impunity and oppression. The Filipinos must be reminded that we must work collectively because there is no lasting peace without justice,” they added.*
