The 7th IB shot and killed 16-year-old student Eusibio Cranzo, also known as Kuni Cuba, on June 9 in Sityo Kiluding, Barangay Kiadsam, Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat. He was returning home with his brother and two friends when the murder happened.

Reports said Cranzo’s group chanced upon an operating unit of the 7th IB, when they were fired upon. Cranzo was immediately hit, while his three companions scampered to the adjacent cornfield. The soldiers falsely claimed having confiscated a Garand rifle from the victim and accused him of being a member of the New People’s Army.

Meanwhile, other cases of human rights violations have been recorded in recent weeks.

Bombing. An estimated 2,700 people were affected by the aerial bombing of the 54th IB under the 503rd IBde in Barangay Maling, Balbalan, Kalinga on June 7. Residents observed two helicopters circling and dropping bombs.

In Nueva Vizcaya, the 7th ID bombed Barangay Abuyo, Alfonso Castañeda eight times on June 20 in the early morning. Two attack helicopters also fired successively, while the AFP also used drones.

Arrest. Edison Yu was detained for ten days after he was arrested by the police on June 8 near the Israeli embassy in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. Yu was supposed to participate in the protest against Israel’s genocide when he was arrested.

In Kalinga, the 54th IB arrested a certain Gap-idan Claver Bawit whom it accused of being an NPA fighter in Barangay Balantoy, Balbalan on June 6.

Harassment. In Bulacan, the 80th IB and police raided the house of peasant leader Ronnie Manalo in Barangay San Roque, San Jose del Monte City on June 18, while no one was there. Police claimed having retrieved firearms, grenades and other paraphernalia from the house. On the same day, soldiers went to the house of peasant leader Cecilia Rapiz in Barangay Paradise 3 in that city.

In Rizal, soldiers repeatedly harassed 80-year-old fisherfolk-leader Romy Antazo. In May, he was picked up by four soldiers and forcibly taken to the municipal hall for a “dialogue.”

In Negros Occidental, 94th IB soldiers and paramilitaries illegally broke in and ransacked seven houses in Sitio Cabagal, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City on June 7. The soldiers also harassed Evelyn Manait, a member of Ituman-Bukidnon, in Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan on June 13.

In the first week of June, state forces “visited” Mafel Macalanda and Lina Ladino, indigenous leaders in Cagayan Valley, at their homes in Baguio City and Cagayan to threaten them with arrest.