State forces arrest 2 peasant leaders in Caraga

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Joint elements of the police in Caraga and 3rd Special Forces Battalion (SFB) arrested Marcela Diaz, 59, on May 14 at 4 a.m. in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur based on a trumped up frustrated murder charge. Diaz is a member of the Kapunungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Sur, which has long been red-tagged by the military for actively fighting for the rights of farmers to land. Diaz’s relatives demanded her immediate release as she has stage 4 cancer. She is detained at Camp Rafael Rodriguez in Butuan City.

On the same day, state forces arrested Virgilio Lincuna, 70, member of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Caraga, in Barangay Ban­za, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte based on a trumped up murder charge. He was previously detained in 2019 after being slapped with trumped up charges. Lincuna is a stroke survivor suffering from partial paralysis and can barely walk.

On May 17, policemen arrested Elisa “Tita” Lubi, national chairperson of Karapatan, based on trumped up charges. She was released on the same day after posting bail.

Killing. Suspected members of a anti-communist group gunned down Briccio Nuevo, Jr., lay minister of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, in Barangay Poblacion Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on May 4. Nuevo has long been red-tagged by Kagubak, a vigilante group that is operated by the police and military in the province.

Abduction. Suspected military elements abducted Ed Navalta, coordinator of the Camarines Sur People’s Organization in District 1 on May 18, 5 p.m. in the town of Ragay, Camarines Sur. His whereabouts are still unknown.

Militarization. Ten barangays in Tinambac, Camarines Sur are have been occupied by the 9th ID since the second week of May. This includes the barangays of San Roque, San Ramon, Salvacion, Pantat and Turo where soldiers are conducting house to house searches.

State forces arrest 2 peasant leaders in Caraga