Press Release
October 23, 2018

AKBAYAN SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON THE KILLING OF 9 FARMERS IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

I express my strongest condemnation over the killing of 9 farmers, including 4 women and 2 minors, who were reportedly fired upon by around 40 armed men at Hacienda Nene in Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

The brazen nature of the attack against the farmers demonstrates the culture of impunity spread throughout the country. That this happened under the watch of President Rodrigo Duterte, who prides himself in allegedly instilling fear in the heart of criminals, points to two possible things: despite his tough talk against criminals, the perpetrators of this gruesome crime are not afraid of him; or, his rhetoric of violence and the climate of fear he created inspired this latest act of violence. Either way, he failed in his promise to keep our people safe. His simplistic and barbaric approach to enforce law and order is not working. It only preys on poor people but leave the big-time druglords, landlords and oligarchs untouched.

I call on our authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation of the incident with the end in view of bringing to justice all those responsible for this despicable act of violence. This, even as I urge the government to implement a law and order strategy rooted in human rights principles and the rule of law.

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