In three separate incidents, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) killed a 2-year-old boy and five civilians in Negros Occidental, Abra, and Western Samar in recent weeks. In all incidents, the AFP falsely claimed the victims were New People’s Army (NPA) combatants to cover up their crimes.

In Western Samar, soldiers of the 63rd IB indiscriminately fired at the home of the Obiado family in Sitio Salvacion, Barangay San Nicolas, San Jose de Buan on September 25. Farmer Ronie Obiado and his 2-year-old grandson Intoy were immediately killed, as three others ran. The whereabouts of Obiado’s wife remains unknown.

In Negros Occidental, soldiers of the 79th IB brutally murdered peasant spouses Christian Job Vargas and Mailyn Salgado on October 17 in Sitio Nabalas 1, Barangay Canlusong, E.B. Magalona.

The couple left behind their children aged five, one year and five months.

In Abra, the 77th IB killed 68-year-old farmer Antonio Diwayan Agliwan in Sitio Talipugo, Barangay Buneg, Lacub on October 13 in the afternoon. The victim’s relatives insisted that Agliwan was a civilian. He lives alone in Barangay Buneg.

Meanwhile, the NPA-Abra said the person killed by soldiers on October 3 at the border of Sitio Lamunan, Barangay Gacab, Malibcong and Barangay Ableg, Daguioman in Abra is a civilian and not a Red fighter. Contrary to claims of the 24th IB, no encounter took place in the area.

Arrest. Military forces arrested 70-year-old Dolores Rapsing-Belibit, sister of martyr Jose Rapsing, in Barangay Bolo, Masbate City, Masbate on September 30. She was charged with murder, attempted murder, and various other crimes which relatives claim are all trumped-up.

State forces also illegally arrested Nilo Mabuti Almoradie, 58 years old, and Melanie Tupas Amor in Barangay Piña, San Jacinto on October 2 on charges of murder. Almoradie is baselessly accused of being the “3rd most wanted” in the town of San Jacinto.

Indigenous people organizer Reymart Moneda was arrested for still unknown cases on October 16 in Barangay Magsaysay, Infanta, Quezon of 1st IB soldiers. He is currently detained at the police station in Infanta.

Rape. Two women in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro were raped by soldiers of the 203rd IBde and CAFGU last August, according to a report by the National Democratic Front (NDF)-Mindoro on October 8.

“Rose” was raped by CAFGU elements on August 28 in Barangay Hagan. “Ana”, the second victim, was an indigenous resident of Barangay Lisap.

Bombing. For one week, September 23 to 29, the 87th IB continuously rained bombs on barangays San Nicolas and Aguingayan in San Jose de Buan, Western Samar. On September 23 alone, cannons were fired at least 17 times from 8pm to 4am the next day.

Beating. On October 3, elements of the 203rd IBde beat three Mangyan-Buhid residents of Barangay Manoot, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro. The fascists also illegally arrested Nano Dam-in.

Pressure. Ariel Urag, currently a village watchman and candidate for the barangay council, was choked, had his face pressed on the ground, and threatened to be killed by 2nd IB soldiers in Barangay Matubinao, Cataingan, Masbate on October 12. Fifteen soldiers stormed his house to scare Urag and forced him to obey their orders.

The Department of Justice sent a subpoena to Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano on October 12 to face perjury and slander charges filed by the 70th IB. Human rights groups believe that these are all harassment and retaliatory attacks after the two disclosed that they were abducted, tortured and illegally detained by the military.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte threatened the life of Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Rep. France Castro on a television program on October 11. Duterte said the likes of Castro are the targets of the intelligence fund and “must be killed.”

In Camarines Norte, six cases of intimidation and threat in the towns of Labo and Jose Panganiban were recorded between August 11 and October 3. Some of the peasant victims suffered torture.

Shooting. In an attempted massacre on September 27, 9th IB soldiers fired upon a group of indigenous people in Sitio Makiso, Barangay Malaya in Labo, Camarines Norte. After the incident, one of their tribe members was arrested and detained.

The 62nd IB also indiscriminately fired on the community in Sitio Kapanaklan, Barangay Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on October 6.