National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Ericson Acosta and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) organizer Joseph Jimenez were killed yesterday, November 30 at 2:00 AM, in a fake encounter devised by combined forces from the 94th and 47th Infantry Battalion – Philippine Army, according to a report from Karapatan Negros Island.

The September 21 Movement reports residents of Sitio Makilo, Barangay Camansi, Kabankalan City attest that Jimenez and Acosta were captured alive before being killed in a fake encounter.

Residents also claim that the victims’ bodies bore stab wounds.

To stage the supposed ‘encounter’ between alleged rebels, the Philippine Army strafed the house of Ronald Francisco, a civilian. Francisco, alongside his wife and three kids, were also taken to the headquarters of the 47th IB. Until now, they have not returned to their residence.

Karapatan’s report states Acosta was in the area to consult with the peasants and farm workers on their struggles with measly wages, continued landlessness, and militarization. Such findings were aimed to update the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER), a substantial portion of the peace talks between the NDF and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

Karapatan pointed out that the killing of Acosta and Jimenez disregarded the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and violates the NDFP-GRP Join Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

In a statement, BAYAN Negros condemend the killing of Acosta and Jimenez, stating, “The summary executions, false reports of an encounter and “take no prisoners” policy is a consistent operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly in Negros. The AFP must answer for their crimes and be held accountable for the various violations against human rights.”

Acosta was a National Book Awardee poet, songwriter, and activist. After news of his murder broke yesterday, youth and cultural groups gathered outside the Commission on Human Rights and held a candle-lighting vigil, calling justice for his death.

Karapatan, in a statement, called on the Commission on Human Rights to conduct an independent investigation as well as to look into the abduction of the Fransciso family.