The ongoing tactical operations of the Philippine Army in Sitio Pallacon have prompted Barangay Payao in Binalbagan to release an Executive Order (EO) on April 12, suspending classes in several schools.

The Doña Jesusa Elementary School-Namulo, PNHS-Namulo Extension, CDC-Namulo, and CDC-Tilangcoy are among the schools affected by the EO.

Barangay Captain Paul Vincent Tan signed the EO, citing “precautionary measures and security of the students and teachers from the Philippine Army’s tactical operation at Sitio Pallacon, Barangay Payao” as the basis for the suspension.

Residents have reported that the 94th and 62nd Infantry Battalions, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, have been conducting intensified operations for the past three days in Isabela and Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. This includes setting up checkpoints, conducting door-to-door operations, and interrogating residents.

The affected areas include Sitio Bungyod, Sitio Jamaica, Sitio Victoria, Sitio Montara, and Proper in Barangay Camangcamang in Isabela, as well as Sitio Pallacon in Barangay Payao and Sitio Amelis in Barangay Santol in Binalbagan.

On April 10, the military entered Barangay Camangcamang, Isabela, around 3:00 AM to set up tents for the checkpoints

 On April 11 at 4 AM, the operations escalated, with the military strafing the home of the But-ay family in Sitio Pallacon. This particular area had been harassed by the military before, with 11 houses being ransacked on September 16, 2022.

Residents have expressed their fear and outrage over the military’s heightened operations and hamletting, which they say are direct violations of their human rights. They also reported being labeled as supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) and harboring armed rebels, despite their insistence that the only armed people in their communities are the Philippine Army themselves.

In a statement released on April 11, the September 21 Movement South Negros called for the military operations to end. They also appealed to local government officials and the Commission on Human Rights to take action regarding the citizens’ human rights being violated by the military.