The Congress and the Senate approval of the proposed 2026 national budget revealed that the Marcos regime will pour ₱8.1 billion into the National Task Force (NTF)-Elcac’s Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP). This was condemned by various groups, including religious organizations, saying it is rewarding fascism in the countryside rather than responding to the roots of poverty and armed conflict.

The SBDP was first implemented in Eastern Visayas (EV) in 2021. As in other regions, each “beneficiary barangay” was allocated ₱20 million, later reduced to ₱4.5 million and ₱2.5 million in subsequent years. It was supposedly meant for farm-to-market roads, health centers, classrooms, and livelihood programs.

The 8th ID managed the SBDP under the cover of the Regional Task Force-Elcac. According to Larab’s study, the program listed EV’s 700 barangays as “beneficiaries” from 2021 to 2025, equivalent to 16% of the region’s 4,390 barangays.

For a barangay to be considered a “beneficiary,” it must declare the revolutionary movement “persona non grata,” form a Barangay Task Force-Elcac, compel residents to surrender, and stage a “peace rally.” Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) units—soldiers and police forces deployed by the 8th ID in villages—decide whether a barangay is “cleared” and eligible for inclusion in the SBDP. The barangay’s status is formalized after months or years of continuous or recurring military encampments by RCSP units.

While in villages, soldiers encamp in public facilities such as barangay halls, schools, churches, plazas, and health centers. Even peasants’ homes are used as barracks. Residents suffer widespread rights violations including killings, harassment, and illegal arrests. Crops and tools are destroyed, belongings stolen, and communities subjected to “lockdowns.”

Barangays under the SBDP are the same ones placed under de facto martial law terrorism. According to Larab’s study, at least 569,666 individuals or 131,643 households have been subjected to the 8th ID’s military rule.

By the 8th ID’s own report in 2020, 1,513 barangays declared the revolutionary movement “persona non grata.” This shows the military’s coercion and subjugation over civilian governance, and that military rule in the countryside extends beyond RCSP areas. Based on the 8th ID’s data, up to one million people may have been placed under military rule in the region since 2018.

Highest number of violations

A total of 43,947 victims of human rights violations were recorded from 2018 to 2025, most of them peasants. Barangays with the most violations are also those that received the largest SBDP funds. The SBDP became a “reward” for barangays subjected to military rule under RCSP units.

About 44% of the recorded violations are concentrated in Northern Samar—the province with the most SBDP “beneficiary” barangays (240). Most cases were recorded in Las Navas, which has the highest number of SBDP “beneficiaries.”

The 10 municipalities with the largest SBDP funds include Catubig, Catarman, and Palapag. Like Las Navas, these towns experienced severe attacks such as bombings, killings, and forced surrenders.

Samar province accounts for 26% of the documented cases. The town of San Jose de Buan recorded the highest number of incidents of mass harassment. Unsurprisingly, 13 of its 14 barangays were SBDP “beneficiaries.”

Meanwhile, 15% of human rights violations occurred in Leyte, and 11% in Southern Leyte. Most were recorded in the towns of Jaro, Sogod, and Bontoc. Cases of detention and harassment of youth, students, activists, and human rights defenders were also documented in cities such as Tacloban.

From Larab, January 3, 2026.