62nd IB military abuses in Central Negros continues
Units of the 62nd IB carried out a series of murders, attempted murders, harassment and other human rights violations on Negros island in recent weeks.
Soldiers abducted, tortured then killed two civilians in Barangay Sag-ang, La Castellana, Negros Occidental on the morning of January 17. To cover up their heinous crime, the soldiers made it appear that Boy Baloy, 60 years old, and Bernard Torres, 50, were killed in the military’s modus of fake encounter.
Baloy and Torres were picked up from their residence, taken away outside the community, subjected to intense interrogation, beaten and tortured, then shot by the butchers. Baloy is a member of Kaisahan sa Gamay’ng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros (KAUGMAON-Guihulngan Chapter), while Torres is a habal-habal driver and a member of the Undoc-Piston-Guihulngan Chapter. Since 2017, the two have repeatedly suffered intimidation and harassment by state forces and agents.
The two were not Red fighters, according to the New People’s Army (NPA)-Central Negros.
Attempted murder. Soldiers shot at farmer Cerilo Bagnoran Jr while riding his motorcycle and traveling in Crossing Cordova, Barangay Manghanoy, La Castellana on January 14. Bagnora was on his way home when three elements of the 62nd IB Charlie Company flagged him down at Crossing Cordova before opening fire.
Before the attempted killing of Bagnoran, he was being sought after by men who identified themselves as police on January 7 in his village. On January 8, 24 62nd IB soldiers operating at Sitio Mandayao-4, Barangay Kamandag, La Castellana were asking for him.
Intimidation. The Carreon family in Sitio Bonbon, Barangay Hinakpan, Guihulngan City was not spared from the state’s brutality and terrorism. About 40 troopers of the 62nd IB forcibly entered and ransacked the family’s house on the morning of January 14. The soldiers illegally ransacked the family’s belongings and searched for the house owner Bimbo Carreon. The military attack caused fear among the family, especially the children.
Meanwhile, in Cavite, farmers of Lupang Ramos in Dasmariñas were subjected to grave threats on January 15. Five Philippine Army Scout Ranger elements entered the said community in a military truck and opened fire on the residents. Farmers here have been fighting for their right to 372 hectares of land since 2014.