Intensified militarization and human rights violations
The regime has concentrated a large number of fascist troops and heavy weapons in Paluan and its border with Abra de Ilog and Mamburao towns as part of AFP operations to pursue the NPA. They believed that numerous NPA troops were encamped in the area, but were unable to find them. In their failure to find the Red fighters, the fascist troops have directed their desperation and violence on the Mangyan natives living in the area.
Over 2,000 military troops from the Philippine Army, Navy and Air Force have reportedly descended on the area. Five helicopter gunships, three spy planes, five howitzers and two tanks have been positioned and two Philippine Navy vessels now patrol the nearby shore. AFP Southern Luzon Unified Command Public Information Officer Maj. Jose Broso threatened incessant attacks on Mindoro until "it is completely freed from communist terrorist control."
The operation has been unrestrained in its violation of human rights. Most affected are residents of Sitios Aglimasan and Talahib in Barangay Harrison, Paluan where the AFP first unleashed its fascist terror. There is a long list of wanton destruction and burning of houses, theft of property, strafing, harassment, beatings and manhandling.
At least seven civilians were abducted by elements of the 16th IB. Three of them have not surfaced until now. The soldiers threatened, intimidated, shamed and tortured Mangyan natives. The women were molested.
The Mangyan natives evacuated to avoid military repression and abuse. But the military hounded and threatened them all the way to their evacuation areas in the barrio centers and neighboring villages.
Forbidden to go any further, the military blocked all roads from their evacuation sites. Together with 500 other residents from neighboring barrios, residents of Barangay Harrison passed through long and hidden trails towards the Paluan town center.
Several times, the military denied the human rights organizations entry into Occidental Mindoro. The groups were only able to enter through their members' sheer tenacity and courage. But even they were not spared from AFP abuse. On January 22, men in bonnets blocked the nine-member team of KARAPATAN-Southern Tagalog two kilometers from a 16th IB checkpoint, seizing their belongings and documentation on human rights violations in Paluan and neighboring towns. The two men in the team were struck with butts of Armalite rifles.
| 
