The 74th IB has been imposing relentless military rule in many towns of Northern Samar. Widespread cases of human rights violations have been recorded here in recent weeks.

In Palapag, the 74th IB abducted and killed Ryan Arnesto in Sitio Canonghan, Barangay Osmeña in his koprasan (coco silo) on July 8. When found, Arnesto’s body was bruised and almost unrecognizable due to swelling and knife cuts on his face, arms and legs. He also had bullet wounds in the neck, under his chest and in his side.

Witnesses said soldiers tied Arnesto to a coconut tree, tied and repeatedly jerked his head, before riddling his body with bullets. They dragged his body like an animal to the adjacent village of Bagacay.

Marco Turbanada, a young peasant, was abducted by the 74th IB soldiers in the same place and time. They subjected him to severe physical and mental torture. They arbitrarily detained and forced him to guide in military combat operations.

In other areas nationwide, the following violations were recorded:

Arrest. State forces arbitrarily arrested the former secretary general of Karapatan-Southern Midanao, Jayvee “Jay” Apiag, on August 13. He was served with an arrest warrant on a trumped-up charge of frustrated murder.

Harassment. The NTF-Elcac intimidated and threatened anew student leader and Cavite human rights defender Paolo Tarra. Its agents repeatedly visited his family’s home on August 4 and threatened to press charges of “terrorism.” They also threatened to abduct him unless he stops his progressive activities.

Demolition. In Tarlac City, personnel of the so-called “Luisita warlord trio” demolished six houses of peasants in Barangay Central, within Hacienda Luisita, on August 12. This “trio” is composed of the Lorenzo, Cojuangco and Ayala families. Approximately 989 families were evicted from the said barangay to make way for the ₱18 billion project of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) that will cover 290 hectares of land.

In Bataan, at least 26 fisherfolk families were evicted in the demolition of homes in Sitio Kimil Ilog, Barangay Capunitan, Orion on August 12. The community, which faces Manila Bay, is still reeling from the effects of the oil spill and recent typhoon Carina and monsoon rains. They are being evicted for the planned construction of business structures in the area.

In Masbate, 2nd IB soldiers conducted illegal logging in the farming community of Hacienda Mortuegue-Larrazabal on August 4. The hacienda covers the barangays of Tubog in Pio V. Corpuz and Tawad in the town of Esperanza. The 2nd IB and landlords employed this tactic to drive away and evict the peasants from the hacienda.