MANILA, Philippines — Two weeks after the National Democratic Front of the Philippines’ (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines’ (GRP) successful unilateral ceasefire, which was supposed to give a good atmosphere for the resumption of the peace negotiations between the two parties, another farmer from Brgy. Sumuroy, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar was shot dead recently after attending a seminar of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Eastern Vista news reported on Sunday.

The victim was identified as Jennifer Tonag, 35 years old.

Tonag, according to the report posted by the human rights group Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas on their Facebook page, was hit twice in her hand and chest on January 17, Friday.

She was declared dead on arrival at the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital.

She is currently the 35th  victim of extra-judicial killings in Eastern Visayas since the declaration of Memorandum Order No. 32 on November 2018.

The human rights group eyes no other suspect but the military who have long been subjecting Tonag and her organization Northern Samar Small Farmers Association (NSSFA) to malicious tagging, outrightly calling them as members and fronts of CPP-NPA.

Under the Duterte administration, Tonag and other residents of Brgy. Sumuroy have evacuated not less than three times to take refuge at the town proper or to their relatives’ houses because of the harassments and rights violations perpetrated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in their village.

Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas further recalls Tonag’s active participation in exposing the military encampment in village especially during the 2018 Stand with Samar Caravan for Rights and Justice at the National Capital Region.

“For someone who fearlessly fought for their rights as farmers, a thousand more will surely hunt the perpetrators of her death and will hold them accountable,” said Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas spokesperson Alex Abinguna.

Progressive groups are now demanding President Duterte to lift the ‘unjust’ Memorandum Order 32 “which only brought nothing more but human rights abuses in Eastern Visayas” according to the human rights group. (STACY ANG/IAMIGO/Currentph.com)