After three years, families of nine farm workers who were brutally massacred while engaging in “bungkalan” or land cultivation activities at Hacienda Nene, Purok FireTree, Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City, Negros Occidental are still shedding tears as justice continues to evade them.

The Apolinario Gatmaitan Command of the New People’s Army – Negros Island (AGC-NPA) issued a statement denouncing the reactionary government for its failure in holding accountable even a single suspect from “the goons of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army and Special Civilian Active Auxiliary or RPA/SCAA and the Marañon family, the mastermind of the massacre.”

“In truth, the people can no longer expect justice for the victims of the Sagay 9 massacre from the Duterte regime since behind the perpetrators are the powerful and despotic land lords in North Negros who are under the protection of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police (AFP/PNP),” said AGC-NPA spokesperson Ka Juanito Magbanua.

He added that the Sagay 9 massacre was used by the regime as basis to declare a “state of lawlessness and violence” in Negros Island and impose Memorandum Order 32.

Magbanua pointed out that the “tyrannical regime can no longer rule the old way” which is why it has to use fascism, the military and police as agents, to keep those resisting it under its power and so Duterte can remain beyond his term.

“Now, more than ever, the evil intent of Duterte must be opposed,” he said.

He urged peasants and farm workers to continue arousing, organizing and mobilizing their ranks to fight the fascism and terrorism of the state; carry on with their ‘bungkalan’ and heighten anti-feudal struggles to improve their economic situation and strengthen the people’s fighting spirit.

The NPA, as the genuine fighter of the people, he added, will commemorate the gruesome Sagay 9 massacre through launching tactical offensives that will punish those with blood debts against the people and give justice to victims of human rights violations.

According to Magbanua, the NPA will continue to defend the interest of the peasants and farm workers against the butcher, tyrannical, and blood-thirsty Duterte regime, mercenary AFP/PNP and bandit RPA-SCAA.