Negros killings

On late July 2019, 20 person were killed by dozens of unidentified assailant across Negros Oriental.

March 2019 killings

On March 30, 2019, police operations were conducted simultaneously in three different towns in Negros Oriental, leaving 14 people killed while 12 others were arrested. According to the local police and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, who conducted the operations, said the suspects opened fire and resisted arrests while serving the warrant for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. They added that the people were the suspected members of the Special Partisan Unit of the New People's Army (NPA). PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde asserted that the operation was "not the massacre" and those people were killed are those who "fought back". Karapatan and UMA National Federation of Sugar Farmers condemned the incident, saying that these people were merely farmers and habal-habal drivers. As a result, the provincial director of Negros Oriental police and three other police officers were relieved from the post. Human Rights Watch and Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura called for the investigation of the killings.

On April 9, the Diocese of Dumaguete called for the "impartial investigation into the deaths of these 14 men." Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the families of the slain people "should file charges."

July 2019 killings

Timeline

July 18

Four police officers were killed in ambush at Barangay Mabato in Ayungon town. According to the authorities, the police officers said that there was a presence of New People's Army in the area when they were attacked. Another source is that the police officers were allegedly being tortured after they were cornered by the groups. President Rodrigo Duterte has offered a P3-million reward to find the responsible. Duterte also visited the wake of the slain police officers.

July 24

Lawyer Anthony Trinidad was killed in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental after he was gunned down in an ambush by two gunmen in motorcyle and his wife was injured. Opposition Senator Leila de Lima has called for justice of Trinidad, who, "she said, represented 'political prisoners in Negros' and 'was reportedly among the names on a hit list by an alleged anti-communist group.'" The Defend Negros Network said in a statement through Facebook account that Trinidad is allegedly "among the names on a list of an alleged anti-communist group called Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok Komunista (KAGUBAK)."

July 25

On July 25, 2019, in Guihulngan a Guihulngan Science High School principal named Arthur Bayawa and his sister named Ardale Bayawa, and a Barangay Captain named Romeo Alipan were killed inside their homes by unknown gunmen. The Bayawa siblings were killed by at least 10 assailants inside their home. Forty minutes later, at 1:40 am (PST), Alipan was also killed by at least 20 unidentified gunmen at his home. Guihulngan City Police Station Lieutenant Colonel Bonifacio Tecson said that motive of killing Alipan was his joining the anti-insurgency campaign of the government.

July 26

A resident named Fedirico Sabejon of Barangay 3 in Siaton town was killed by the gunmen in a motorcycle.

July 27

Gunmen entered the house of village chief of Panubigan, Canlaon City Ernesto Posadas and killed him. The suspects fled in a white van and green pick up truck after writing “Mabuhay ang NPA” (Long live the NPA) and “Traidor sa NPA” (Traitor to the NPA) in spray painting. Five persons have been killed by unidentified gunmen including the Canlaon City Councilor Ramon Jalandoni, a 71-year-old barangay chief, Edsel Enardecido – the former mayor in Barangay Tampocon 1, and Leo Enardecido – his cousin, and Fedirico Sabejon; all of whom were killed inside their homes.

July 28

A man named Anaciancino Rosalita, a resident Barangay Bucalan in Canlaon was gunned down in broad daylight, according to Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NORPPO).

Reactions

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemned the incident and accusing the military, police and paramilitary forces of orchestrating the attacks. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has called for the government to stop the killings and also urged the government to investigate the incident. Human rights group Karapatan said that the incident "might be attributed to the implementation of the Oplan Kapanatagan, Memorandum 32 and Oplan Sauron in the province." The Memorandum 32 was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on November 23, 2018 upon the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte; the memorandum directs the soldiers and police officers to "prevent such violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country." Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said that he ordered the deployment of 300 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos to Negros Island following the series of killings. Senators Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros have expressed concern over the killings occurred in the province.