Under the blazing sun in front Camp Aguinaldo, palay hats stood out together with the line of banners. It was not a celebration for peasants — but a plea to end militarization, violence, and to serve justice for Negros 19 killed in Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19, 2026.

Farmers and fisherfolk play a vital role in sustaining the nation’s food security and economy, yet they are the ones who struggle the most to survive.

Pamalakaya’s National Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo stated in his speech during the fourth day of peasant month protest on October 19, that the administration does not aim to protect the life and rights of the people, farmers, and fisherfolk, but to protect the ruling class, the foreigners, and the people in power for their own personal interest.

Fisherfolks are also facing harassment that disrupts their lives. According to Arambulo, there are recent reports of intimidation in Binangonan, Rizal, where fisherfolk were called by Maritime Police to appear at the municipal hall. They were later summoned to renounce and abandon Pamalakaya.

This kind of intimidation is not confined to the province of Rizal, as similar deployments have also been reported in other regions.

Nida Barcenas from Karapatan-Bicol stated that the 9th Infantry “Spear” Division of  Philippine Army or at least ten battalions of men in uniform were scattered around six provinces in Bicol region.

During the “Stakeholder and Media Fellowship Night: Episode 1 – Kaakibat sa Kapayapaan,” event of 9th Infantry Division held on April 18, 2026 at Camp Elias Angeles, Maj. Gen. Aldwine I. Almase recognized the efforts of national agencies, local government units, media personalities, and other stakeholders in countering alleged local terrorist activities to ensure peace and safety in the Bicol region.

For Karapatan-Bicol , however, these achievements actually meant human rights abuses against farmers communities. As of March 2026, Karapatan has recorded 46 political prisoners in Bicol — 9 of them are women, with 22 arrested under Marcos Jr. administration. In his four year term in the government,  two enforced disappearances and 38 extrajudicial killings have also been documented.

Red-tagging, violence, and land grabbing continue to disrupt the lives of Bicolanos, Barcenas said.

“To this day, residents of Masbate continue to appeal for help amid alleged land grabbing by Governor Kho. Farmers are being driven off their lands, and those who resist are killed and red-tagged as NPAs, [New People’s Army]” Barcenas said.

The issue involving Governor Antonio Kho is also part of the problem regarding land dispute over the Pecson Estate in Cawayan, Masbate. Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) stated that Kho took over a portion of 1,807-hectare estate, forcing more than 100 farmers off the lands they have cultivated for years.

The agrarian conflict has also been associated with reports of killing involving peasants in Cawayan. A human rights report from Karapatan revealed cases including killings of farmers named Pancho Versaga and Renard Remulta on October 28, 2022 in Sitio Villaluna, Barangay Itom-Bato, Cawayan. These two were among more than 100 farmers tilling a 450-hectare portion of the Pecson Estate within land seized by Kho in Masbate.

Karapatan has declared Masbate as Bicol’s killing fields due to an increasing number of victims who had been killed under Marcos Jr. regime’s counter-insurgency war on the province.

One of the heinous cases was the killing of a farmer couple Aimee and Jover Villegas, a two-hectare land caretaker. The military said that the couple died under armed encounters. However, their injuries contradict this claim as Aimee’s throat, chin, and neck had been slashed, while Jover sustained gunshot wounds in the nape and back.

Echoing this concern, Grace Nabian from Amihan-Negros called for a stop to the militarization in rural communities.

She questioned killings, abduction, and threats against farmers, stressing that land reform, and access to quality education for their children are what they need.

She also pressed his demand to hold Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accountable for various deaths in their land including Negros 19.

During an afternoon mass in a collective protest campout in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Sol Santuyo, mother of Maureen Santuyo, emphasized the long-overdue demand of farmers that were ignored by the government.

“From then until now, our farmers have had one cry, but those in power deliberately turn a deaf ear. I hope a better way is found, so that no more youth would have to risk their lives just to help our farmers,” Santuyo, whose daughter was among those killed in Toboso, said.

Various organizations along with other student activists continue to call for justice for Santuyo, Alyssa Alano, RJ Ledesma, and Errol Wendell, Lyle Prijoles, Kai Sorem, and others but to all farmers, fisherfolk, journalists, and residents who were killed, abducted, threatened, and deprived of land and rights. (RVO)

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