Soldiers of the 7th IB brutally massacred five Red fighters and a civilian at Sitio Mugti, Barangay Chua, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat on November 23. The five Red fighters decided not to engage in battle when they were encircled by the enemy as there were many civilians in the area, and as such no armed encounter took place.

No amount of denial from the Armed Forces of the Philippines can hide the 7th IB’s brutal massacre and desecration of the remains of Indot Dulunan (Ka Dennis), Sep Kasa (Ka Ho), Allan Dalimbang (Ka Duran), Annabel Talon (Ka Elena), and Ka Pogi, and civilian Gerry Kasa.

According to witnesses, the cadavers bore torture marks and signs of that they were shot at close range. The killing of surrendered combatants and hors de combat violate the rules of civilized warfare.

Shelling. In Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, the 23rd IB thrice strafed and shelled three separate barangays on the last quarter of 2022. This resulted in widespread chaos and disturbance in communities and destruction of farmlands. Resident Juanito Junaldo, who was then working in his farm in Barangay Lower Olave on Deccember, was wounded in one of the incidents. On November 5, soldiers killed Rene Villa and claimed he was a Red fighter killed in a fake encounter.

Arrest. Soldiers of the 10th ID in plainclothes illegally and without warrant arrested poor farmer and habal-habal driver Danilo Antumikay on December 10 at 1 p.m. Antumikay was abducted in Barangay Tugaya, Valencia City. Fearing for Antumikay’s life, his wife and 2-year old child insisted that they accompany him.

Attack on the press. Sectors condemened the guilty verdict handed down by a Quezon City local court against journalist Frank Cimatu on charges of cyberlibel. According to journalists, the conviction reinforced the “chilling effect” faced by journalists in the country. They called for the repeal of libel laws especially as these are used by corrupt politicians they expose to jail journalists and attack press freedom.

Forced surrender. La Union Peace and Justice Advocates condemend last December 4 the forced surrender of San Antonio chapter memebrs of Timpuyog dagiti Marigrigat nga Umili iti Naguilian and San Nicolas West chapter memebrs of Timek ken Namnamma dagiti Babassit a Mangngalap iti La Union in Agoo town. The incident happened on November 26 when the police forced leaders of the two groups to submit a list of their members and sign documents declaring their “withdrawal” of support from the said organizations.

Militarization in Mindoro. The National Democratic Front-Mindoro reported 29 cases of human rights violations by the 203rd IBde in Rizal and Calintaan in Occidental Mindoro in November.

These include 13 cases of encampment in schools, churches and barangay halls; seven cases of physical assault, four cases of threats, three cases of illegal search, two cases of straffing and one each of illegal arrest and detention, forced surrender and evacuation.

Meanwhile, Bayan-Panay secretary general Elmer Forro was released on bail last December 7.