AMID RELENTLESS COMBAT operations of the 20th IB, more and more cases of human rights violations are being recorded in the towns of Northern Samar. Recent cases include bombings, shootings, food and livelihood blockades, and sexual abuse by soldiers.

In Las Navas town, drunken soldiers indiscriminately opened fire in Barangay San Francisco on April 9. In Barangay San Miguel, soldiers fired mortars at around 11 p.m. on March 12 near homes.

In Catubig, a CAFGU element, and another soldier, pointed a gun at and molested a 15-year-old girl who was returning home from a dance in Barangay Hinagonoyan on April 12.

Meanwhile, the 20th IB continues to prohibit farmers in all barangays covered by its combat operations from bringing rice or any other food to their farms. Soldiers also control the movement of farmers and impose a curfew.

In Davaao City and Davao de Oro, 10th ID soldiers harassed to force the “surrender” of regional labor-leaders Carlo Olala and Melodina “Melod” Gumanoy. They and their families were “visited” on April 23 and 26.

In Negros Occidental, 79th IB and police forces arrested two minors, brothers aged 16 and 17, in Sitio Humayan, Barangay Pinowayan, Don Salvador Benedicto on April 25. The 79th IB paraded them as arrested New People’s Army “child soldiers”.

In Albay, soldiers shot and injured Ace Diano and Francis Leteral in Barangay del Rosario, Jovellar, Albay on April 25. The fascists also illegally arrested uncle-and-nephew Ernesto Lumangaya and Arlan Lumangaya and forced them on the ground, but they also escaped.