Albayalde on 14 slain farmers: They ‘fought back’ during arrest
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Mon, 01 Apr 2019 04:40:31 +0000
THE 14 slain farmers in Negros Oriental who were tagged as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) resisted arrest, which prompted police operatives to retaliate, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde said on Monday.
He said in a press briefing that the police operatives would not engage in a firefight with the farmers if they did not start shooting while they were being served with their warrants of arrest.
“These 14 reportedly fought back. Our police officers would not fire their bullets if these farmers did not fight back,” Albayalde said.
He also said that if police were planning to commit murder, 12 other farmers would not have been arrested.
Albayalde said one of the police officers in the operation was injured from the firefight.
He also clarified that the 14 farmers were killed separately in Negros Occidental — eight in Canlaon City, two in Santa Catalina, and four in Manjuyod.
“This did not happen in one place. It is not true that this is a murder incident because it happened in different areas,” Albayalde said.
Police operatives had 36 search warrants against some farmers, who were mostly local peasant leaders, in the province for their alleged connections with the NPA.
The slain farmers were identified as Steve Arapoc, Manulo Martin, Sunny Palagtiw, Edgardo Avelino, Esmael Avelino, Rogelio Recomono, Ricky Recomono, Genes Palmares, Eric Acabal, Ano Enojo Rapada, Gonzalo Rosales, Melchor Pañares, Mario Pañares and Franklin Lariosa.
Albayalde said the farmers were all validated NPA members.
“They say that they are just farmers. Well, of course, we all know that almost all NPA [members] are farmers in the morning and rebels in the evening,” he said.
Albayalde added: “Just because they are farmers, it does not automatically mean that they are involved in the armed group.
Various human rights groups and leftist lawmakers slammed the PNP for the killings.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it would investigate to determine if the killings were justified.
Albayalde also assured the public that an investigation was underway. ROY NARRA
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