Eight illegal arrests were conducted by state armed forces in different areas of the country in just six days around the period of the holy week. All of them were accused of being members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and were planted evidences to be charged of fabricated criminal cases.

Not less than 15 units of military and police arrested three women farmers who are members of Bayan Muna last April 13 in Barangay Mawaque, Mabalacat, Pampanga.

They were Maria Teresa Buscayno, Erlinda David and Evelyn Muñoz, who were all elderly. According to Karapatan-Central Luzon, they have been staunch advocates of the interests and welfare of fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, farmworkers, peasants and urban poor for deades.

Two days before this incident, Ernesto Lorenz, Maria Fe Serrano and Plinky Longhas were arrested while in queue for vaccination in Parañaque City. Lorenzo is known as consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in peace negotiations. Serrano’s companion is the wife of Eduardo Serrano, a political prisoner who died in prison due to state’s refusal to release him even though those fake charges against him were already dismissed by the court.

Before them, a youth-leader of Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Aldeem Yanez was arrested in Cagayan de Oro last April 10. Soldiers and police force raided his parents’ home where he was currently residing at dawn.

Last April 8, Isabelo Adviento was arrested in Nueva Vizcaya, he is the fourth nominee of Anakpawis Partylist in 2022 elections.

Also during the Holy Week, military troops conduct artillery shelling on civilian communities at Palo 12, Barangay Poblacion 2, Santiago, Agusan del Norte last April 15. This is in retaliation after NPA fighters ambushed them.

Kadamay-Negros organizer Iver Larit is still missing, after he was abducted by suspected state forces last April 5. He was last seen going out of his house in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. He has long been a victim of red-tagging.

In Southern Tagalog, soldiers of 85th IB harassed the medical service conducted by Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK) in Agdangan, Quezon last April 10. Soldiers disrupted the event and questioned its legality.

Moreover, the Communist Party of the Philippines questioned the immediate cremation of the 1st Special Forces Battalion last April 7 of the four bodies which they claim to be members of the NPA which was killed in an encounter in Barangay Tikalaan, Talakag, Bukidnon.

The NDF-Eastern Visayas reported last April 9 the arrest, torture and murder of Bryan Obin (Ka Tanel), former Red fighter, by the 20th IB in Barangay Sag-od, Las Navas last March 12.

In Piat, Cagayan, military personnel of the 17th IB murdered unarmed NPA members Saturnino Agunoy (Ka Peping), and NPA medics Augusto Gayagas (Ka Val) and Mark Canta (Ka Uno) last April 14. They were traveling to seek medical attention for Agunoy when they were blocked and killed by the soldiers.

In Bicol, 49th IB murdered Armancio Malto, in his home in Purok 5, Barangay Badbad, Oas, Albay last March 27. They also arrested Maricris Reblano, also a resident of the said community. A wounded Red fighter, Franklin “Ka Drilon” Roaring, was also arrested. He is a resident of Barangay Mayag of the same town.