EDITORIAL - Deaths in Negros

The police director of Negros Oriental and three of his men were relieved of their posts yesterday. Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said this was to prevent the four police officers from influencing an ongoing internal PNP probe of the killings of 14 people in Negros Oriental during simultaneous police counterinsurgency operations.

Among those killed were eight farmers, two barangay captains and a lay minister. Twelve other persons were rounded up on suspicion that they were engaged in ambuscades and assassination of state security forces. 

Government officials have said that court warrants were issued for the arrest of those killed and the others who are in police custody, and that the deaths resulted from legitimate law enforcement operations. Militant farmers’ groups, on the other hand, have condemned the killings, calling them the latest manifestation of the heavy hand of the Duterte administration.

Peasant communities are caught in the crossfire of armed conflict. Their support is sought by both communist rebels and government forces. The support can be in terms of information gathering, or small amounts of rice and other supplies. Those who refuse to cooperate with rebels might face violent retaliation.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, aware that counterinsurgency requires more than a military response, has ongoing programs to win hearts and minds at the grassroots, to deprive rebels of mass support and persuade them to give up armed struggle. Killings such as those in Negros Oriental derail such efforts.

Insurgency is fueled by social injustice. The government has given up on the peace process with exiled communist leaders and is instead pursuing localized peace talks. Community support is critical for local talks to succeed. And the talks cannot succeed if social injustice persists.