A bombing incident near a civilian community in Cagayan, as well as cases of illegal arrests and harassment against farmers and other civilians are among Ang Bayan’s reports in the past two weeks.

The AFP dropped 30 bombs in four rounds from 3 a.m. on January 29 in Barangay Sta. Clara, Gonzaga, Cagayan, even though there was no NPA unit in the area. Several hours of strafing followed. As a result, 66 families, majority of whom are Agta families, were forced to evacuate.

In Sorsogon, the 31st IB and police arrested Ruben Estremadura in Barangay Sta. Barbara, Bulusan on January 12. State forces also arrested Renaldo Gaan on January 28 in P4, Barangay Mahaba, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte. Both were accused of being members of the people’s army.

In Quezon, Gabriela-Southern Tagalog disclosed on January 21 information about “Belle,” a 15-year old girl raped by a soldier. Belle was abducted by soldiers of the 59th IB and was detained from June 27 to August 13, 2020. She was forced to admit that her mother, who is an activist fighting for the return of the coco levy funds to farmers, is a member of the NPA. The family of the victim decided to report the case to Gabriela due to relentless attacks by the AFP against them.

On January 28, armed goons of Gregorio Araneta III, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s brother-in-law, fired at members of peasant organizations conducting a fact-finding mission on the illegal demolition in Lupang Teresa, Barangay San Roque, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. The goons also seized the belongings and relief goods brought by the fact-finding team. Four houses and farmlands were demolished in the area on January 26.