Police ops in Negros Oriental where 14 farmers killed legitimate, Palace says

April 1, 2019

Malacañang said on Monday police operations in Negros Oriental where 14 farmers were killed were legitimate.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this was the report that the Palace received.

"It’s a legitimate police operation. The search warrants were issued by a competent court, and they (police) were implementing that," he said.

"And the 14 of them fought with the law enforcers, and they were killed in the process," Panelo, also chief presidential legal counsel, said.

He noted 12 farmers were arrested and are undergoing legal process.

The Commission on Human Rights has ordered an investigation into the incident, while human rights group Karapatan and other militant groups have condemned the incidents.

Asked on the accusations the government was deliberately targeting farmers with supposed links with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army, Panelo said, "You know, that is the usual statement issued by those who are linked with the Communist Party of the Philippines."

"But the fact remains is that the people subject of a search warrant have been identified as suspects in certain ambushes, assassinations, assassination attempts, so it’s police operation and backed up by documents. And the courts believed in them that’s why they issued these warrants," he explained.

According to Karapatan, the 14 farmers were killed during separate operations on March 30.  Celerina Monte/DMS