Fascist state on a rampage: People's travails in 11 months of militarization
The record of the Macapagal-Arroyo regime on human rights in less than a year in Malacanang is dismal. According to Karapatan, the regime registered 544 cases of grave violations. This includes 137 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention; 38 victims in nine recorded cases of massacres; 39 persons summarily executed and 77 cases of torture. The unbridled terror unleashed by AFP and PNP personnel in the implementation of Oplan Makabayan/ Oplan Balangai contributed to the grave record of violations.
Basilan and Southern Tagalog, particularly the island of Mindoro, experienced the biggest concentration of military operations and bore the worst beatings from state fascism this year. This resulted in grave and rampant abuses against civilians who were falsely accused by the marauding military forces.
The following are some of the latest human rights violations of the Macapagal-Arroyo regime:
December 15. Felix Robregado, Gerard Mendoza and Iner Bulusan were slapped with trumped-up charges in connection with the assassination of Cagayan Congressman Rodolfo Aguinaldo. Felix Robregado was falsely accused because his ID was supposedly recovered near the scene of the killing. In fact, Robregado had been booked by the military on almost all "insurgency"-related crimes for some years now. Meanwhile, innocent civilians like Mendoza and Bulusan were picked up as suspects despite the fact that the NPA had admitted meting justice on Aguinaldo for crimes committed against the people.
December 8. Nicanor de los Santos, a Dumagat tribal leader, was summarily executed by members of Task Force Panther under Col. Laureano Tolentino in Antipolo City. De los Santos, secretary-general of Makabayang Samahan ng mga Katutubong Dumagat, was accused of being a Red commander of the NPA who was killed in an encounter with the Task Force.
According to his companions, however, they were getting ready to attend a march-rally in Manila Hotel where Macapagal-Arroyo's "Economic Summit" was convened, when the soldiers attacked. Task Force Tanggol Karapatan is crying out for justice on De los Santos' execution. It added that the military had also prevented eight buses loaded with farmers from joining the march.
December 7. Melchor delos Santos, 27, a "rebel returnee", his father Dominador, 49 and his brother Falcon, 21 were killed because he was suspected of involvement in the destruction of telecommunications cell sites in Tarlac and the killing of two policemen in November.
November. About 12,522 families or 59,407 people were forced to evacuate when troops of the regime conducted pursuit operations against the MNLF who staged an assault in Zamboanga.
Last week of October to the last week of November. Troops from the 38th, 39th and 49th IB of the Philippine Army sowed terror in the barangays of Bakung, Batang, Guangan, Caridad, Lampanag and Bituin, all of Tulunan, North Cotabato. Despite an agreement between the military and the residents to make the area a zone of peace, the AFP continues to conduct operations on the pretext that this was an NPA stronghold. Against the people's outright demand for the soldiers to leave, the troops continue to intervene in barangay affairs and collect food "donations" from barangay residents. Those who refuse to cooperate are accused of being communists or supporters of the NPA.
November - December. Around 500 soldiers from the 36th and 24th IB set up camp in San Luis, Agusan del Sur to protect the $25 million IFMA project funded by the Asian Development Bank. On the pretext that they were doing Military - Barangay Social Development work, the soldiers demand food from the villagers, intervene in barangay affairs and are always conducting a census of the entire village. Barangay officials have opposed the occupation of the barangay center and its use as a command post of the military and have petitioned for the immediate removal of the troops from their barrios.
Cesar Mantindahan of Balit was coerced by the soldiers to compel all his fellow villagers to "surrender" supposedly because they were all NPA. They even accused the Banwaon datus of being communists.
The datus are traditional leaders of the towns covered by the 110,000 hectare IFMA project. The military has displayed wanton disrespect for the indigenous practices of the people and has even accused religious sisters staying in the area of being members of the NPA.
Middle of October. For more than one week, military elements of the 402nd Brigade terrorized the people in the town of San Luis, Agusan del Sur as they conducted pursuit operations against the NPA guerrillas who raided the police station on October 8. They encamped in civilian households and ransacked the dormitory for children studying at Urios Extension School.
October 31. Troops from the 45th IB burned the house of Mrs. Romy Lemos of Barangay Santiago, Quirino, Isabela. (See related article on Cojuangco landgrabbing in Mallig Plains)
October. As a result of the biggest military operation in Isabela and other parts of Cagayan Valley since 1995, human rights violations have increased. The simultaneous operations began on October 8 and covered the towns of San Guillermo, Jones, Echague, San Agustin, all of Isabela. Eight farmers were tortured while 17 families were harassed. Troops from the 41st, 45th, 54th and 48th IB stole farm animals and destroyed farmers' crops.
October 11. Budbud Osting, a 65-year-old Mangyan was beheaded by the CAFGU in Mansalay, Mindoro Oriental.
Hundreds of Mangyan families have already evacuated to safety for fear of reprisal from the military. About 15 families have relocated to Manila for medical treatment due to torture and gunshot wounds. They have appealed to Macapagal-Arroyo for the immediate pullout of the military in their areas so they could safely return and live in peace.
October 8. Elements of the 54th IB from Digdig, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija massacred Jay-ar Albendia, Marvin Cusep, Leo Gallardo, Gertrude Curamen and Jose Martin - all fisherfolk from Sitio Tuli, Barangay Conversion, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. Soldiers from the 54th IB vented their ire on the fisherfolk whom they chanced upon near the river where their troops had earlier encountered the NPA, resulting in the death of Capt. Rogelio Eligino and the wounding of four soldiers (see related story on a defensive operation turned into an offensive by the NPA in the AB October issue). All the victims were brutally tortured and bore frontal gunshot wounds. Curamen's eyes were gouged out of its sockets, his fingers were fractured, his neck stabbed and his head hacked with a bolo. Cusep had fractured legs and hands and also bore hack wounds on his neck. Martin was shot in both eyes, fracturing his skull. The relatives of the victims found their bodies sprawled naked near the river.
October 8. Two community leaders of Mansalay, Mindoro Oriental, Barangay Captain Roger Fernando and Rolando Cabagay, were killed by troops of the 16th Bde and CAFGU right in front of their families.
October 5. CAFGU elements and soldiers belonging to the 204th Bde shot at the house of Bernard and Belly Montoya in Mansalay, Mindoro Oriental, crushing Belly's foot and hitting Bernard in the arm.
Third week of September. Grechen Valdez and other students of La Sallete University, Cagayan State University and other colleges in Isabela and Cagayan were harassed and threatened after joining a rally on September 21. Pastor Joseph Agpaoa, a church worker who also joined the rally was abducted and threatened. The military warned them against joining rallies and similar activities.
September 22. Two leaders of a farmers' organization in Mansalay, Mindoro Oriental were arrested by the military and CAFGU and are still missing.
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