Eight individuals were brutally killed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the very day that the 51st anniversary of the declaration of martial law was being commemorated on September 21. Five of them were hors de combat and three were civilians. On September 29, state forces summarily killed in Rizal an organizer of the labor movement.

In Masbate, Jover “Dodo” Villegas, 40, and wife Aimee Villegas from Sitio Basak, Barangay Luna, Placer were shot and killed by soldiers and CAFGU elements. The military falsely claimed the two to be New People’s Army (NPA) members killed in an encounter. Jover’s eyes fell out as his face was riddled with bullets.

In Negros Occidental, the 47th IB massacred six individuals aboard a tricycle going to Sityo Lubi, Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City. Five NPA fighters who were unarmed and not in a position to fight, and their civilian driver were killed in the incident.

Ka Rekoy (Bobby Pedro), Ka Goring (Mario Mullon) and Ka Joyce (Janice Flores) were NPA medics. Meanwhile, Ka Bravo (Alejo delos Reyes) and his 6-month pregnant wife Ka Diane (Melissa dela Peña) were on medical leave. The civilian tricycle driver was identified as Robin Gaitan.

Police officers gunned down Jude Thaddeus Fernandez, a veteran organizer of the Kilusang Mayo Uno in his place of residence in Binangonan, Rizal. Police falsely claim Fernandez “fought back” despite being unarmed.

Arrest. State forces unjustly arrested Michael Eraña, 46, in Barangay Nilumisu, Echague, Isabela last September 21 on trumped-up charges. Police falsely claim that guns, ammunition, grenades and military equipment were confiscated from him.

Repression. In August, the Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET), Inc. of Central Visayas received a subpoena from the Department of Justice in relation to the case of “terrorist financing” of 27 individuals who are its past and present officials and staff. Also named in the case is Jaime Paglinawan, president of AMA Sugbo-KMU, an organization linked with CERNET.

Police also “visited” and threatened two workers under the veil of Executive Order 23 which formed a committee purportedly to protect the rights of workers to organize.

Bombing. People sufferred hardships due to the two-day bombardment by the 2nd IB and 5th Field Artillery Battalion of the mountains of Bagulayag, Uac and Irong-irong in Uson, Mobo and Milagros in Masbate. The AFP shelled the area at least 46 times on September 23-24.

Shooting. Soldiers of the 2nd IB indiscriminately fired bullets at the border of Cataingan and Palanas towns in Masbate on September 29. This caused fear in the communities, especially among students and teachers. Schools in the affected barangays were forced to cancel classes.