ON January 2, the New People's Army's Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-NPA Northern Negros executed businessman Juvie Sarona in front of his home in Toboso, Negros Occidental. Mr. Sarona, the NPA said, was punished for his alleged role in the Oct. 20, 2018 massacre of sugar workers in Hacienda Nene, Sagay City. Ka Cecil Estrella, the spokesman for the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command, claimed that the victim was the leader of a military-backed gun-for-hire group that has been doing the dirty job for big landlords.

The allegations have been denied by both the victim's family and the military. Also, if indeed Mr. Sarona was involved in such violent crimes as alleged by the NPA, presenting the evidence to competent authority rather than subjecting him to vigilante-style justice would have been the civilized manner of bringing justice to the Sagay massacre victims.