Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) combat operations brought significant damage to the livelihoods of residents in Candoni, Negros Occidental. On November 24, an indiscriminate shooting by AFP soldiers near the Pagatban River, at the border of the towns of Candoni, Ilog, and Hinobaan, resulted in the death of a water buffalo. The soldiers did not indemnify the owner.

Prior to this, the AFP dropped three bombs at the boundary of Barangay Gatuslao and Agboy in the town of Candoni on the same day. These incidents caused extreme fear among the residents.

The Human Rights Advocates Negros condemned the soldiers for their successive violations of human rights. Their operations followed encounters between the 15th and 47th IB and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Gatuslao on November 21-22.

Human rights groups believe that the indiscriminate bombing and shootings are linked to the Araneta and Consuji families’ landgrabbing case for the ₱2-billion oil palm plantation of Hacienda Asia Plantations Incorporated (HAPI). HAPI is seizing 6,652.32 hectares of land in Candoni.