CPP/Ang Bayan: No let-up in human rights violations

Propaganda article from the English edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Jun 21): No let-up in human rights violations

While the country is almost dumbstruck in the seemingly unfathomable state violence in Marawi City, the state continues to violate human rights in other parts of the nation.

Bicol. Troops of the 31st IB killed Captain Bernardo Lerio, 52, village chief of Barangay Patag, Irosin, Sorsogon, on June 14 inside his home. The military have been targeting Lerio since the Red fighters punished the late commander of the 22nd IB’s Mapaso Detachment in Brgy. Patag in 2012.

Around 7 p.m. on June 13, elements of the Military Intelligence Company (MICO 5) went berserk like monsters in an hour-long killing spree in three barangays of Gubat, Sorsogon. Onboard a motorcycle and armed with M16 rifles, they shot dead Councilman Pedro Esperida of Barangay Bentuco and Alfredo Espedido III of Barangay Naagtan inside the victims’ homes. After this, the troopers went to Barangay Bulacao to kill another resident whom they have long been harassing for allegedly being an NPA drop post or supporter, but they failed to see him. Civilians in the area recognized one of the gunmen because he was a resident of their area, Pfc. Jordan Enconado, a MICO 5 element involved in several cases of killing since Oplan Bantay Laya 1.

On June 9, at 9 p.m., elements of the 31st IB shot and killed Vicente Gaton, a civilian and resident of Brgy. Balocawe, Matnog, Sorsogon. The killing occurred at Brgy. Camcaman, in front of the old municipal hall while he was waiting for passengers in his tricycle. The victim had previously received threats from the military for having a relative who was a member of the NPA.

On June 13, forces of the 2nd IB gathered 19 civilians in Barangay Bacolod, Milagros, Masbate to display them as surrenderees. Photos of them were taken with military uniforms, combat boots, five M16 rifles and one calibre .45 pistol.

South and Far South Mindanao. On June 17, more or less 185 B’laan families (1,000 individuals) from Barangay Colonsabac, Matanao, Digos, Davao del Sur fled from their communities for fear of the 16th IB’s continued military operations. The military encamped in the center of the community and forbade the residents to go out of their houses without IDs. The residents are afraid to go to their fields lest they be accused of being NPA members.

On June 11, two civilians were wounded when troops of the 16th IB strafed their homes in Paradise Embac, Paquibato District, Davao City. One of the victims is still in critical condition as of this writing. The said battalion is notorious in Paquibato for mauling civilians, ransacking homes and other abuses.

In Davao del Norte, on June 20, the Alamara fired their guns inside the school compound of Salugpongan Ta Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, Inc. (STTICLCI) while the students were holding classes. Four Alamara members forcibly entered the school in Sitio Nasilaban, Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod last June 12, led by Rudel Buntalog, and supported by the AFP.

They interrogated Ramel Miguel, Alliance of Community Educators (ACE) president and teacher-in-charge for half an hour and accused him of being an NPA sympathizer. According to ACE reports, the Alamara and AFP are still in the community and continue terrorizing the Lumad.

Aside from the harassment, there are also reported cases of damage to property in Sitio Dulyan in the same village. Here the 60th IB controlled the water system and limited the use of the residents.

In a separate incident on June 5, in Sitio Butay, Barangay Palma Gil, the Alamara and 60th IB troops barred former STTICLCI student Arnold Dalin and Nasilaban PTCA Secretary Lorena Mandacawan who were on their way to help at the Brigada Eskwela of the said school. Prior to this, the paramilitary and the AFP warned the residents of Nasilaban and Talaingod not to participate in the Salugpongan’s Brigada Eskwela. The Brigada Eskwela is a clean-up activity commonly done in all schools nationwide before classes start.

Southern Tagalog. On June 7, Sigma Security Agency guards armed with armalites and automatic shotguns terrorized the farmers to stop them from weeding and cleaning the fields in Kapdula Land. According to Belinda Mojica, woman leader of Samahang Magbubukid sa Kapdula, the guards did not wear uniforms, they had no IDs and they covered their faces. The previous day, six guards tried to stop them from tilling the land. The 155-hectare land in Kapdula which the farmers started to till on May 30 was grabbed from them by the Enrile family’ JAKA in collaboration with the South Cavite Land Corp. Inc. and Sta. Lucia Realty and Devt. Corp some 20 years ago through the deceptive Joint Venture Agreement.

Northern Luzon. On June 6, operatives of the 7th Civilian Military Operations Battalion of the 7th ID in Candon City, Ilocos Sur summoned the owner of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center–Ilocos Program Office (CRC-IPO) and Ilocos Human Rights Alliance’s (IHRA) rented office. The military investigated her regarding the IHRA staff and told her that the office was being used as an NPA safe house. Barangay officials on their nightly patrols have noticed unfamiliar motorcycle-driving men roaming around the office at night till the early hours of the morning morning for the past several days. Men identifying themselves as AFP operatives have been visiting local officials of Brgy. San Isidro, Candon City since April to spy on the IHRA office. They were also told that the NPA is conducting large-scale NPA recruitment at the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College-Candon Campus. They were given a list of supposedly new NPA recruits, which included a member of Anakbayan Ilocos and the Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation. Another one on the list was Pidong Gabayan, a farmer of Salcedo, Ilocos who has been dead since 1987.

Likewise in Baguio City, two state agents have, since May, been tailing Rima Mangili-Libongen, indigenous leader of Kabenguetan Agkaykaysa nga Ilaban ken Aywanan ti Biag, Daga, ken Kinabaknang, or Benguet Unite to Defend and Nurture Life, Land, and Resources (Kaiabang) and the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA)-Benguet Chapter. According to Kaiabang, this intends to scare Mangili-Libongen to make her discontinue with her activities. She is a member of the well-known music group Salidummay and Secretary General of Bileg ken Urnos dagiti Agtutubo nga Ybenguet (Buday, Strength and Unity of the Benguet Youth).

The men tailed her from her house in Itogon to Baguio City, and to the youth assembly she facilitated at Itogon in Bua, Tuding on May 30. On June 3, one of her stalkers grabbed her by the arm while she was at Shopper’s Lane in Baguio City, and only released her when other shoppers took notice. After this, she continued receiving threatening text messages even after she changed her phone number.

Metro Manila. Relatives of political prisoner Ferdinand Castillo complained about the state’s neglect of the conditions of prisoners in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) ascribed the prison’s already week-long loss of electric service to a fallen electrical post, but has not repaired this although other parts of the camp have already restored electricity. There are 25 political detainees in the prison who are facing health problems due to the extreme heat within, aside from the cramped conditions of the prison. Ferdinand Castillo is suffering from heart disease.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20170621-no-let-up-in-human-rights-violations/