The Defend Negros #StopTheAttacks Network mounted the “National Day of Mourning and Protest” on August 20 to condemn the widespread killings and other attacks against civilians in Negros.

It spearheaded the protest of hundreds of individuals in various parts of the country including Metro Manila, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate, Laguna, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cebu, Bacolod and the Negros Island. Migrants conducted similar protest actions in the US, Australia and Hongkong to stand in solidarity with the call to stop the killings.

Since Duterte assumed office, 226 farmers have been killed—90 of whom were from Negros. The latest victim is Joshua Philip Partosa, 20, Grade 11 student of Bolocboloc High School who was gunned down by four men on August 15.

Partosa and his two siblings were on their way to school at Purok 2, Barangay Bolocboloc, Sibulan, Negros Oriental when they were strafed by the perpetrators. Partosa was then shot thrice at close-range and stabbed in the neck. The police claims that Partosa was involved in a recent string of stabbing incidents in Dumaguete City. This was, however, belied by his father. On the same day, Fernando Toreno, former councilman of Barangay Kumaliskis, Don Salvador Benedicto was also killed.