This April, two farmers were murdered in Masbate. They are the 27th and 28th farmers killed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the island under the Marcos regime.

Four CAFGU members abducted Elorde Almario, 43, from his farm in San Carlos, Milagros on April 2. His relatives found him dead later that day. According to his family’s report, his body bore gunshot wounds and showed traces of torture.

On April 4, the same CAFGU group abducted Nonong Monteseban, former barangay captain of San Carlos. After being beaten, he was released by the fascists allegedly because of a mistaken identity.

On April 11, the AFP killed Jimmy Pautan in Sitio Tadloy, Barangay Luna, Placer. As in many cases, the AFP falsely claimed Pautan was a Red fighter killed in an encounter.

Meanwhile, elements of the 4th IB shot Jay-el Banay Maligday, a student at Grace Mission College and a resident of Sitio Soryawon, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro on April 7. The military falsely claimed that he was an NPA member after a platoon of soldiers stormed his house.

Abduction. William Lariosa, known organizer of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao, was abducted and has not yet been surfaced by military agents. Lariosa, 63, was abducted on April 10 in Barangay Butong, Quezon, Bukidnon. Lariosa and his family have long been harassed by the military, prompting him to seek sanctuary in Bukidnon.

Attempted eviction. A local resident of Lupang Tartaria in Silang, Cavite was injured and lost consciousness on April 16 when guards from Jarton Security Services forcibly entered the farming community.

Guards stormed Tartaria and forced back residents in an attempt to fence off the land. The guards serve as private goons of the Ayala-Aguinaldo tandem, who have long been laying claim to the land. The farmers say the fencing is illegal while the decision on land ownership is still pending in the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Supreme Court.

Demolition. The combined forces of the National Housing Authority and Quezon City police illegally demolished the houses in San Isidro, Quezon City on April 18. About 700 families are affected by the demolition in the community behind the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. A parking lot is set to be built in this area.