The Agricultural Workers Union condemned the alleged “massacre” of a farmer’s family this Wednesday night — the aforementioned is said to be linked by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to the communist rebellion.
According to UMA’s statement, the incident occurred on the night of June 14 in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
He said among those killed was the mother, Emelda Fausto, who is a member of the Baklayan, Bito, Cabagal Farmers Association (BABICAFA). Apart from him, his two children — one 15-year-old and the other 11-year-old — also died. He said that his husband was also affected by the incident.
The group added that it had been less than a year since several neighboring towns in Himamaylan were put under military lockdown due to the encounter between the Mount Cansermon Command of the New People’s Army and elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
These agri-workers continue to fear that the Fausto massacre will trigger another series of killings. At least 21 farmers have been victims of extra-judicial killings since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office.
AFP Spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar strongly refuted the accusation of Casilao’s group in the military. However, they did not want to give a direct comment on this.
Group condemns massacre of ‘red tagged family’ in Negros Occidental
“Sorry but I will not waste my time reacting to malicious and unsubstantiated allegations,” said Aguilar in an interview earlier by Philstar.com.
The farmers’ federation has warned several times about the danger of red-tagging as a violation of freedom of association, especially since MO32 has historically been used to mobilize the AFP against agricultural workers and accuse them of having something to do with the NPA.
“Nananawagan ang UMA sa Commission on Human Rights na sipatin ang kamay ng militar sa panibagong masaker sa isla, at sa pamahalaan na wakasan na ang MO32,” added Casilo.
The Sagay 9 Massacre in October 2018 and Negros 14 were first mentioned in the UMA’s complaint to the International Labor Organization as fatal consequences of red-tagging in Negros.
The aforementioned are said to be part of the 349 percent killed under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
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