Not even a storm can stop the inherently evil 2nd IB’s in its terrorist rampange against the people in Masbate. Amid typhoon Enteng, soldiers killed 30-year-old farmer Tata Bacutin on September 1 at 5:00 a.m. in Barangay Pili in Placer town.

Bacutin is the 33rd victim of extrajudicial killing in Masbate under the US-Marcos regime. As with most of its crimes, the military claims that Bacutin was killed in an armed encounter.

“The Kho dynasty is largely responsible for Bacutin’s murder and more than a hundred victims of extrajudicial killings since Gov. Antonio Kho took office in 2016,” the Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid (PKM)-Masbate said.

PKM said the intensification of violence and terrorism by the Armed Forces of the Philippines is part of Gov. Kho’s desperation to remain in power. Rep. Wilton “Tonton” Kho outrightly threatened that many more will die in Masbate if his family loses in the upcoming election.

The warlord Kho family has ruled Masbate for decades. This rule has led to the widespread land grabbing. “The AFP-PNP-CAFGU is the modern private army of the Khos and other ruling classes in the province,” PKM-Masbate said.

The group extends its condolences to Bacutin’s family and loved ones. PKM-Masbate said it fully supports the revolutionary justice campaign led by the New People’s Army to punish the AFP-PNP-CAFGU for its crimes and hold accountable the masterminds behind the killings.

As the NPA strengthens the armed struggle in the province, it is important for the farmers to strengthen their political unity against state terrorism, the group said. “Masbatenyos can resist the enemy’s retaliatory attacks only through the unity and collective preparation and vigilance of the communities to protect each individual from military pursuit.”

In Ang Bayan’s records, Masbate is second, after Negros Occidental, among the provinces with the most victims of extrajudicial killings under the US-Marcos regime.