Farmers group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) strongly condemned the statement of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) defending the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and downplaying the grave irregularities uncovered in the ongoing investigation into the Negros 19 killings in Toboso, Negros Occidental.

KMP said the statement of NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. was a desperate attempt to pre-empt accountability and condition the public to accept the military’s narrative despite mounting evidence pointing to possible violations of international humanitarian law and the gross mishandling of the victims’ remains.

“Hindi “questions” o mga tanong lang ang inilantad ng paunang findings ni Dr. Raquel Fortun. Ang nakita niya ay mga iregularidad, kapabayaan, at indikasyon ng posibleng paglabag sa karapatang pantao at internasyunal na makataong batas,” KMP said.

The group said the NTF-ELCAC statement was particularly revolting for dismissing the confirmed misidentification and disappearance of the cadaver of Errol Wendel, a community researcher and organizer of agricultural workers serving peasant and farmworker communities in Negros. KMP said reducing the incident to a mere error in the claiming process was cruel and dishonest.

“Hindi maitatanggi ang malalang kapabayaan at kawalang respeto sa mga bangkay at naulilang pamilya. Hindi pinahintulutan ang pamilya na makita mismo ang labi sa loob ng kabaong. Napakahigpit at may presensya ng mga pulis sa punerarya habang nagaganap ang proseso ng pag ID at pag-claim. Kinailangan pang magsagawa ng autopsy si Dr. Raquel Fortun bago nakumpirma na maling bangkay pala ang ibinigay sa pamilya,” the group added.

KMP stressed that the AFP and NTF-ELCAC continue to evade serious questions raised by the forensic findings. Several victims reportedly sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including wounds from the back, while some bodies bore signs of severe physical trauma. Dr. Fortun also reportedly flagged the absence of proper crime scene preservation, inadequate evidence processing, and missing forensic evidence, including clothing supposedly seen in earlier military photographs.

“These are not mere trivial inconsistencies. These are deeply alarming findings that demand independent investigation, not propaganda and scripted justification from agencies notorious for red-tagging, cover-ups, and disinformation,” KMP said.

The peasant group also slammed the NTF-ELCAC for invoking international humanitarian law while ignoring the basic obligations imposed by such laws, including the humane treatment of the dead, proper identification of bodies, preservation of evidence, and protection of civilians and hors de combat persons.

“Ang tunay na usapin ngayon ay pananagutan. Hindi mabubura ng mga pahayag NTF-ELCAC ang mga ebidensyang lumilitaw, laluna ang malinaw na kapalpakan sa paghawak sa mga bangkay at ang mga tanong hinggil sa tunay na nangyari sa Toboso,” KMP said.

KMP called for a full, independent, and transparent investigation into the Negros 19 killings and the mishandling of the victims’ remains. The group also demanded accountability from the AFP, Philippine National Police, and all officials involved in the operation and subsequent handling of the bodies.

“Hindi matatabunan ng mga anti-komunistang propaganda ang panawagan para sa hustisya. Ang mga magsasaka, manggagawang-bukid, at mamamayan ay patuloy na maniningil ng katotohanan at pananagutan para sa Negros 19,” KMP ended. ###