Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) troopers killed a female peasant leader in Sityo Makilo, Barangay Camansi, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on December 23. The victim was identified as Warlita Jimenez, a 55-year-old leader of the farmers’ group in the barangay.
Warlita was the wife of another peasant leader who was killed by the 15th IB on November 30, 2022. The military captured then willfully killed her husband, Joseph Jimenez, and companion, Ericson Acosta, National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant for Negros .
Human rights groups September 21 Movement (S21M)-South Negros and Human Rights Advocates in Negros (HRAN) condemned Warlita’s killing. The groups and the victim’s family demanded justice.
Warlita’s grandchild said two armed men wearing bonnets suddenly broke down the door of her grandmother’s house at around 11 p.m. on December 23. They entered Warlita’s room, and the family heard four gunshots. When her grandchild went to check, Warlita was already dead.
According to S21M-South Negros, the military had continuously harassed Warlita since Joseph’s killing. They repeatedly summoned her to the barangay to force her to surrender as a member of the New People’s Army (NPA). The military also targeted Warlita for her firm fight for their association to obtain the farmland they cultivate in Barangay Camansi.
AFP’s retaliatory raid
The AFP troops’ killing of Warlita happened only weeks after the NPA-Southwest Negros (Armando Sumayang Jr Command)’s armed actions in Barangay Camansi. The NPA targeted AFP intelligence assets in its armed actions.
On December 13, Red fighters’ an armed action in Barangay Camansi killed active military intelligence asset Amay Jimenez. Amay was Joseph’s brother. On December 20, the NPA-Southwest Negros also punished Virginia Salmorenante in Sityo Fabrica.
NPA-Southwest Negros spokesperson Ka Andrea Guerrero said the two were among those who planned the police raid on the house where Joseph and Acosta were staying in Barangay Camansi in November 2022.
The NPA unit said the punitive actions against Amay and Salmorenante achieved justice for those they and the AFP victimized.
