Three cases of aerial bombing and shelling of civilian communities by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were recorded during the past two weeks. Thousands of families were forced to evacuate due to these.
The AFP dropped at least 12 bombs in a Moro Islamic Liberation Front camp in Maguing, Lanao del Sur between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m of March 1. At least seven civilians were killed while several others were wounded. The AFP also mounted a brigade-sized combat operation covering six barangays. Thousands were trapped in the operation and were not able to leave the area. More than 1,300 families were directly affected by the bombing and attacks and were forced to evacuate to the town center. (Read related article on page 6.)
In Occidental Mindoro, the AFP dropped bombs using FA-50 aircrafts at around 1 a.m. last February 26 on communities bordering Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro and San Jose. The community was later shelled seven times at 5 a.m. in the morning. Two Blackhawk helicopters came and went repeatedly to strafe the mountains from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. before dropping fascist troopers in the area.
In Masbate, hundreds of residents were distressed by the bombing in Barangay Igang, Masbate City last February 21. This was after an AFP attack aircraft dropped six bombs at around 4 a.m.
Killings. Soldiers the 20th IB indiscriminately fired at children tending their coconut kiln (koprahan) in Barangay Roxas, Catubig, Northern Samar last February 8. Andre Esponilla, 12, ang Leandro Alivio, 13, were killed while another was severely wounded. To cover up their crime, the AFP claimed that the children were “caught in a crossfire” when a unit of the New People’s Army (NPA) ambushed them.
According to the official report of the local NPA unit, it is not true that the children were caught in an encounter between the NPA and the AFP. The indiscriminate firing by the 20th IB against the children occured separately from the earlier counter-raid operation mounted by an NPA unit against operating troopers of the 20th IB. Both happened on the same day.
Illegal arrests. In violation of his rights under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), Ka Esteban Manuel, Jr., 73, peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, was arrested by soldiers of the AFP Joint Task Force Storm, together with another civilian, last February 16 in Villareal, Samar. According to his family, they still do not know the whereabouts of Manuel Jr.
Cagayan Valley Makabayan Coalition coordinator Agnes Mesina was arrested on the evening of February 28 in Aparri, Cagayan. Mesina was part of a fact-finding mission to Barangay Sta. Clara, Gonzaga. She was released four hours later after human rights organizations asserted that the case for the arrest warrant used against her has already been dismissed.
Four men arrested Diosdado Grefaldo Barbacena Jr. last March 6 in Barangay Rizal, West District, Sorsogon City. He is a member of the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Sorsogon and husband of the provincial chapter spokesperson of Anakpawis Partylist.
https://cppangbayan.wordpress.com/2022/03/07/afp-bombs-civilian-communities-in-lanao-mindoro-and-masbate/
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