On March 18 2019, farmer Larry Suganob, 42, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding perpetrators in Brgy. San Isidro, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. He was a member of Pinagbuklod, an affiliate of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

Larry was active in the farmers’ local struggle against landgrabbing of the Ayalas. Prior to the incident, on February 15, Larry’s family received a notice of demand to vacate their homelot and farmland after 30 days. However, his family asserted their rights. After the period of the supposed expiry, they observed that there were unidentified men making rounds in the area. According to residents, these men were elements of the 48th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IBPA).

In a statement, Roneo Clamor, Deputy Secretary-General of the human rights group Karapatan noted that, “It must be emphasized that these killings are not isolated, but a systematic attack against indigenous and peasant communities who continue to raise legitimate demands for education, self-determination and genuine land reform. Students, their communities, and the schools which they have founded and built are being attacked. Farmers and their organizations, as well as their supporters are being attacked. Human rights defenders and activists are being targeted. The Filipino people who remain firm in the defence of their rights are in extreme danger under this brutal and murderous regime.” He added, “Not only are individuals and communities being targeted, but their advocacies are being criminalized and red-tagged. This regime does not recognize the civil and political rights of its people, nor does it respect or promote the social, cultural and economic rights of these communities. The Duterte government is hell-bent on forcing mega-projects that ultimately spell landgrabbing, displacement, and irreparable environmental degradation to communities. This is forcefully implemented by employing paramilitary units and unleashing the whole gamut of state security forces who mercilessly kill and massacre on command.”

According to KMP, Larry is the 184th peasant victim of extra-judicial killing under the Duterte administration.