Justice for peasant women massacre victims in Masbate - Amihan

The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women strongly condemned the massacre of three peasant women by the 96th IB of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Masbate on August 19, 2023.

“We urge the Masbateños and all Filipinos to denounce and demand accountability and justice from the (Philippine National Police) PNP-AFP and the US-Marcos regime that ruthlessly kill and vilify our peasants, including peasant women,” said Zenaida Soriano, National Chairperson of Amihan.

According to Karapatan Masbate, soldiers and police massacred Jelyn Guis Dejomo, 56, Sheryl Salazar Dejomo, 29, and Divina Lubiano Ajitan, 60, in Barangay Jagnaan, San Jacinto, Ticao, Masbate. As per their usual practice, the AFP claimed that the three peasant women were killed in an armed clash between the 96th IB and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Masbate. In truth, they were deliberately shot after the encounter, showing that the status and rights of the women as civilians were violated.

According to locals, the military and police have long been pursuing the three women on accusations that they were members of the NPA. One of the victims had also been arrested before on false charges.

This deplorable incident is the latest in the state’s attacks on peasant women, families, and leaders, following the AFP’s brutal massacre of the Fausto peasant family in Negros in June. Meanwhile, in San Andres, Catanduanes, Ernesto Nazareno or Tay Erning, 72, a member of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bicol and Asosasyon nin mga Parahagot sa Catanduanes, is under continuous surveillance and was subjected to a series of interrogation by the PNP.

The Masbate massacre is an outright war crime and serious violation of international human rights laws including the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed by the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

“We demand for a thorough investigation of the joint operation of the AFP and PNP that is currently being conducted in Masbate, and that all the responsible officials be punished accordingly,” Soriano said. “The Masbate massacre shows the terror being sowed by the military in the countryside. Instead of protecting the people as is their mandate, the military and state forces lead the attacks against then, driving our farmers to continue to fight for their rights to land and against abuses.”

Amihan called on Masbateños and all Filipinos to call for justice for the peasant women massacre victims and resist militarization of the countryside.