The Duterte regime has once again released a barrage of violent attacks against activists and common civilians these past two weeks. Glaring cases include the killing of three farmers in just one day, violence against workers, and militarization of communities. Over 30,000 residents were forced to evacuate from their communities due to Duterte’s all-out war that mainly victimized civilians.
Killings. Three farmers were killed on June 6 in separate incidents. In Compostela Valley, elements of the 46th IB shot and killed Lando Perdicos while he was resting in the balcony of their home in Barangay Cabuyo-an, Mabini. According to the victim’s wife, she was inside their house, along with their two children, when she suddenly heard shots successively fired. Perdicos was already dead when his wife went out to look for him.
Perdicos is a member of Hugpong sa Mag-uuma sa Mabini-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Humabin-KMP). He actively joined mobilizations against militarization and the campaign to support fellow farmers who pushed for the reclamation of lands seized by Lapanday Foods Corporation in Tagum City.
On the same day, Humabin-KMP also reported the killing of another member in Montevista. The victim was identified as Jovie Jose.
In Agusan del Norte, another farmer was shot and killed on the same day at around 8:30 p.m. in Sitio Tagbakon, Barangay Culit, Nasipit. The victim, Jose Unahan, a Lumad Higaonon who was an active member of Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Norte-KMP. He was involved in defending their ancestral land against the entry of big mining companies and other destructive industries.
On June 10, at around 5:20 p.m. in Davao Oriental, agents of the 67th IB killed Nestor Dagatan Sacote, 29, a resident of Purok San Vicente Lambajon, Baganga.
Sacote was riding his motorcycle on the way home when blocked by two men riding another motorcycle. One of the men alighted and shot Sacote to death. The victim was an active member of the Alyansa sa mga Mag-uuma sa Sidlakang Davao. Before his death, Sacote bravely criticized the intensifying militarization in many communities of Lumads and farmers in their area.
In North Cotabato, three residents were killed, including a minor, while three others were injured when operating troops of the 34th IB fired successive shots at houses in Sitio Makantal, Barangay Olandang, Midsayap, at around 3:40 a.m. The victims were identified as Pinindiya Tumagantang, 68, migrant worker Aida Datumama, and student Norman Zainal Mangakop. After the incident, the soldiers took Datumama’s cash savings.
On June 16, a bomb killed five-month pregnant farmer Naano Mangintas while she was in her farm in Lower Idtig, General Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao. A kid accompanying Mangintas was also injured from the said incident. (See related article on page 4.)
In Nueva Ecija, two unidentified men shot and killed Fr. Richmond Nilo, a priest serving Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish in Zaragoza, last June 10, around 5 p.m.. Fr. Nilo was killed in front of his parishioners while he was preparing for mass. His death sparked condemnation from various groups, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Holy Angel University (HAU) in Pampanga, the Diocese of Cabanatuan, and San Carlos Seminary, where Fr. Nilo graduated.
According to Karapatan, Fr. Nilo’s death heavily confirms the prevailing impunity in the country, where the government itself has normalized killings, and rarely do suspects face prosecution. Fr. Nilo was an ardent critic of Duterte, according to HAU.
On June 8, five residents of Barangay Nabongsoran, Aroroy, Masbate, were massacred. Suspected CAFGU members who were assigned in Barangay Cabangcalan, Aroroy and under the command of the 2nd IB fired fatal shots at Ariel Madrilejos, John Paul Cristobal, and Dijie Cabarles. Two other residents, Jeo Cabarles and Ricky Alejo, were also shot, and and later died in the hospital. A barangay tanod, Jury Cabarles, was also injured from the incident.
Militarization. Arriving in three military trucks, soldiers from the 1st IB occupied the camp-out organized by farmers of Sitio Balacbacan, Barangay Laiya Aplaya, San Juan, Batangas at around midnight of June 4. The soldiers destroyed the fence surrounding the camp-out and rammed their trucks into the farms of the residents. On June 9, the soldiers attempted to build a structure for their headquarters right beside the camp-out’s kitchen. Elements of the PNP also arrived.
Residents, who organized under Habagat-Laiya, have long been defending their farmlands from the land-grabbing attempts of Federico Campos III.
In Hindang, Leyte, militarization has plagued Barangay Mahilom since March. Some 80 soldiers of the 78th IB under Capt. Bard Caezar P. Mazo occupied the houses near the barangay hall and prohibited residents from spending the night in their farms, even if they have to walk five hours home. The soldiers are also strictly monitoring the residents’ every move by having them sign a logbook. A curfew and strict control on the quantity of rice that can be bought were also imposed. The residents who are resisting the entry of troops are also being accused of being supporters of the NPA.
In Quezon, 18 barangays in South Quezon-Bondoc Peninsula have been militarized beginning the second week of June. The 85th IB and other troops of the 2nd ID occupied three barangays in General Luna, six in Macalelon and nine in Lopez.
Residents of Km 9 Semowao, Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur reported that in the morning of June 14, some 100 soldiers suddenly appeared in their community.
In Batangas, farmers of Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca confronted a unit of combined forces of the PNP, Air Force and Philippine Army who camped out in their community starting June 17. This sparked fear and unease among residents.
Evacuation. In Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, 72 Lumad Mamanwa families and 50 peasant families from Sitio Zapanta Valley, Barangay Bangayan were forced to evacuate. Up to 500 individuals were forced to evacuate their homes due to the occupation of their community by the 29th IB. They said that they were still being closely monitored by the soldiers even if they were already staying in the barangay hall. The soldiers did not allow anyone to come near the evacuees, and at one point in June 14, the soldiers also prohibited church people from distributing relief goods to the evacuees.
On June 17, soldiers loaded and transported evacuees to Little Baguio, Barangay San Roque, with the promise that they will be given food. When they arrived in the area, they were displayed to the public and made to appear as NPA surrenderees. They were then detained by the soldiers for one whole day.
Harassment. In Capiz, seven farmers were threatened and harassed by troops from the 61st IB under the command of Lt. Col. Sisenando Magbalot Jr. last June 9 in Sitio Sap-ong Tigpaka Daku, Barangay San Antonio, Cuartero.
Carlito delos Santos, along with four other companions, went to his hut to find out that it was ransacked by the soldiers. He was accused of safekeeping the NPA’s backpacks and explosives, and was forced to surrender. The soldiers tried to forcibly take him but they were impeded by his companions. The soldiers held delos Santos and company in custody for about four hours. After the incident, two other residents—JC and JR delos Santos were strangled and held at gunpoint by the soldiers and were accused as Carlito’s accomplices.
In Bohol, the regime launched subsequent repressive attacks against farmers’ organizations. On June 13, at around 1:40 p.m., agents of the state open-fired at the training center of La Swerte Farmers Association (LASFA) in Barangay La Swerte, Pilar. Saniel Pilegro and his two minor children were then inside the building. After the shoot-out, armed men searched the premises. The next day, in the town of Mabini, while the PNP Regional Mobile Group was operating in Barangay San Jose, police were at the same time distributing leaflets contaning black propaganda against the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa San Jose and Humabol-KMP.
Meanwhile, the fact-finding mission (FFM) headed by Karapatan Central Visayas last June 6 in Barangay Campagao, Bilar was also harassed and intimidated by soldiers of the 47th IB. The FFM aimed to document the human rights violations perpetrated against residents following the encounter between the NPA and AFP last May 15.
The group just arrived at the barangay when they were blocked by the military and the police. The soldiers insisted on joining the FFM in going around the community. When the group declined, the soldiers still followed them around. The soldiers were also accompanied by personnel from the provincial government.
On June 12, while the “Hindipendence” Day protest was ongoing in Cebu City, the military distributed flyers containing black propaganda against progressive organizations. Meanwhile, members of Kabataan Partylist who were protesting in Magay Public Market in Zamboanga City were forcibly driven away by the police and were threatened to be handcuffed if they will not leave.
In Quezon, police harassed farmers and their supporters who were conducting mobile propaganda in Barangay San Jose, Gen. Luna. The police took photos and videos of activists, and even grabbed the cellphone of one of the protesters.
Illegal arrest. Maria Theresa Cabales, 61, was charged with trumped-up rebellion cases after she was illegally arrested by intelligence agents of the PNP and AFP for supposedly joining an NPA offensive back in 2017. She was arrested in Molo, Iloilo last June 8. Cabales was an organizer and staff of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Western Visayas. She was arrested in Tanza-Timawa Village in Iloilo City.
In Bohol, Pedro Lumantas, 54, was illegally arrested on June 17 while he was being treated in Ramiro Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City. Lumantas, who was a former political prisoner, was charged with a trumped-up case of attempted murder and is now under tight supervision of the elements of PNP-Bohol.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20180621-onslaught-of-dutertes-fascism/
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