Contrary to Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s statement in his 4th SONA that the Philippines is already “quiet” and “peaceful” and that “no guerrilla groups” remain in the country, military and police bombings, killings, and harassment of civilian communities and people waging resistance, continue to be relentlessly carried-out in the guise of counterinsurgency campaign.

Bombings. The AFP’s aerial bombings and strafing brought terror, trauma, and anxiety to civilian communities in Northern Samar and Quezon.

On July 31 at 2:30 a.m., the 8th ID repeatedly dropped aerial bombs at Barangay San Isidro, Las Navas, Northern Samar. The military claimed the attack targeted a New People’s Army unit in the area. Nevertheless, it severely impacted the civilian population. Later, the 8th ID hamletted Barangay San Isidro and surrounding barangays, including Barangay Imelda.

In Quezon, Barangay Maguibuay, Tagkawayan was strafed, placed under checkpoint control, and shelled by the 16th IB on August 2. Two helicopters strafed during the operation supposedly to pursue an a New People’s Army unit that morning.

Killings and attempted killings. Environmental defenders and indigenous rights advocates Rudolph Dela Cruz Espe and Rico Gonzaga Malubay were shot and killed in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental on July 27. Both actively opposed destructive mining in the province for damaging the environment and people’s livelihoods. They also served as paralegals for the lawyers of Ateneo de Davao University in the past.

In Occidental Mindoro, 4th IB soldiers arrested and deliberately killed civilian Juan Sumiling in Sitio Salidang, Barangay Naibuan, San Jose on August 1. The soldiers claimed the victim was a New People’s Army member who died in an encounter. The National Democratic Front-Mindoro refuted this claim.

In General Santos City, human rights defender Warren Cahayag suffered serious multiple gunshot wounds in Purok Bliss, Barangay Calumpang on July 28. Cahayag is a paralegal and one of the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers founders in Mindanao in 2005.

Harassment. On July 28, a 17th IB soldier sought Jacqueline Ratin, a peasant and women leader in Cagayan Valley, at the barangay office of Gabut, Amulong, Cagayan. She was again harassed after she assisted in organizing disaster relief operations in the province.

In Central Negros, soldiers climbed and entered homes of civilian residents in Sitio Tagbak, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City without any legal documents on August 1. Earlier, soldiers illegally encamped in a civilian’s home in Sitio Sampungan, Barangay Macagahay, Negros Occidental on July 26.