Albayalde assails claims police summarily executed ‘Negros 14’

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday hit back at so-called progressive groups for claiming that the 14 farmers killed in Negros Oriental were summarily executed.

He told reporters that the claims of these groups were merely propaganda against PNP.

“They take advantage over anything for their own advantage,” said Albayalde, who was in Bohol for a command conference.

Albayalde was accompanied by Brigadier General Debold Sinas, chief of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, at the Bohol Provincial Police Office.

READ: 14 Negros farmers summarily executed – fact-finding teams

Fourteen farmers were killed in the joint military and police operations in the towns of Manjuyod and Santa Catalina, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental last March 30 after they allegedly fought back at armed operatives during simultaneous raids on loose firearms and explosives.

The raids were done on the strength of search warrants against the targets, who were suspected to be either supporters or members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Albayalde said those progressive groups – the fact-finding teams from human rights and farmer’ organizations – that tried to discredit their legitimate operations were anti-progress.

“Sana huwag mabulag ating mga kababayan natin dito. Bakit nila tinatawag na grupo na progressive. Are they really progressive? They’re anti-progress nga eh (I hope our countrymen would not be blinded. Why do they call themselves progressive. Are they really progressive? They’re anti-progress),” Albayalde noted.

“Gumagawa tayo ng mga farm-to-market road, susunugin nila ‘yung mga heavy equipment. Is that progressive? I don’t think so (We are contracting farm-to-market roads, they burn the heavy equipment. Is that progressive?),” he added.

He pointed out that families of the victims had not filed any case against the operatives, yet groups were already using the incident as propaganda material. Progressive groups said those killed were not communist rebels but farmers and leaders of local farmers’ group.

Albayalde said President Rodrigo Duterte would not allow police brutality or police abuse. He even cited Malacañang’s pronouncement, encouraging victims’ families to file criminal charges against the police officers if they saw violations.

READ: Sue cops, Palace tells kin of slain Negros farmers

“Kaya pinaimbestigahan ito eh, and yet ano-anong sinasabi nila. Maghintay tayo anong labas sa investigation. Sabi ng President if they want to file charges against dun sa operating units then walang problema ‘yun (That is why it’s being investigated, and yet they say so many things. Let us wait for the outcome of the investigation. The President said if they want to file charges against the operating units, then there’s no problem about that),” he said.

Witnesses reportedly likened the spate of killings in Negros Oriental to the police’s infamous “tokhang” style execution, but Albayalde just shrugged off such allegation.

He reiterated the operations were backed by search warrants for possible possession of firearms and explosives.

“These operations were covered by search warrant. ‘Di yung sinabi na tokhang like. How can it be a tokhang alike when it is covered by a court order?” he asked.

But he said they would provide legal assistance to their personnel should charges be filed against them.

“We will stand by our personnel here,” he added.

He then hit opposition lawmakers and progressive groups, who allegedly shared disinformation on social media about the incident.

“They take advantage of everything for their advancement to their personal interest,” he said. /kga